Billy Creek finished fourth in the TAB Phoenix at The Meadows in December and won the Bathurst Cup earlier this month but after his stunning win at Wentworth Park on Saturday night trainer Ian Gilders believes the dog's best form could still be ahead of him.
Billy Creek gave Analysing a start and a beating at Bathurst and produced a replica performance on Saturday, mowing down Analysing in the straight to win by a head.
Analysing had begun brilliantly and set up a huge lead but Billy Creek, who was seventh away from his unfavourable box eight draw, found a rails run at the first turn and was a clear third on the back straight.
When Billy Creek had to push Wioleta Bale out of his path at the top of the straight it seemed Analysing might hang on, but Gilders' greyhound lifted near the line for a photo finish victory in 29.78, his fastest WP time.
After the race Gilders said of Billy Creek: "He is just such a terrific competitor.
"Billy Creek is totally placid, not interested in anything, until he hears the lure whizzing around.
"Then he goes crazy and once I put him in the starting boxes he knows what it's all about, it is all business with him then.
"He turns three in May but as good as he has been going, I think he could get even better.''
A friendship forged between leading Victorian trainer David Geall and Catching Pen producer Kat Ernst when Geall's champion Up Hill Jill was racing resulted in Ernst acquiring rising four year old Bounce Back, who pulled off a $23 upset win in 29.91 at WP on Saturday night.
Bounce Back, originally trained in Sydney before being transferred to Geall's kennels, was bought by Ernst for $7000 less than a month ago.
"Joe McFadyen, who trains Bounce Back, and I had bred and raised litters that turned out to be disappointing and in desperation I phoned David Geall to ask if he could find a performed dog for us to buy,'' Ernst explained.
"Through interviewing them when their champion bitch Up Hill Jill was in action, David and his wife Rose had become close friends which is why I turned to them.
"David said a dog called Bounce Back was about to be sold to WA but he might be able to persuade the dog's owners to instead sell him to me for a very reasonable price.
"We knew Bounce Back was ready to win when he finished fifth over 600m at The Gardens last Saturday because he had not previously seen the track and although he missed a place, his time was a quick 34.61.
"I was overwhelmed with emotion tonight, not only because Bounce Back won, but also because my father, who was seriously ill and almost died last year, was able to come to the track with me.''
Sunburnt Highway's much touted "match race" with former Victorian Bobby The Brute in Saturday's Masters event was a one sided affair, with Bobby The Brute bungling the start and missing a place but Sunburnt Highway notching his 37th WP win in 103 appearances.
But Sunburnt Highway's fans had a heart-stopping experience with the Judith Richardson-trained dog leading clearly at the half-way mark before holding off Nathan Goodwin's Zipping Brady to score by a nose in 30.00.
Time honours on Saturday night were with the Scott Board-trained Spring Patriot, who led all the way in 29.76, while Chase Me Honey took out the Free-For-All for Michael Hardman in 29.79.
