ANOTHER sensational performance by rookie stayer Zipping Kansas has the Jason Magri-trained greyhound widely being touted as "over the line" in next month's Group 1 Association Cup.
Heats of the Cup, the only Group 1 long distance race on the Wentworth Park calendar, will be held on April 2 with the $75,000 to the winner final a week later.
Having only his second staying test, Zipping Kansas bolted in over 715m at Melbourne's Sandown on Thursday night in 41.27, just .11sec outside Here's Tears' track record.
The dog has now won his two stamina tests by a combined total of 22 lengths.
"He had not seen Sandown before last Thursday so it was a great effort,'' trainer Magri said.
"I might leave him in Melbourne for the time being because it is hard to get long distance draws here at the moment.''
Zipping Kansas could face his toughest opposition from Zipping Virginia, who won first up in Perth on Saturday night, taking out a heat of the 715m Cannington Galaxy.
Zipping Virginia, being trained in WA by Paul Stuart, has box one in this week's final but will be back in Sydney with her former trainer John Finn for the Association Cup series.
French Martini
FRENCH Martini, NSW's latest sprint find, will head to Wentworth Park following her remarkable win in Friday's $20,000 to the winner Robert Smith Memorial Maiden at LADBROKES GARDENS.
French Martini made her debut in a heat of that race to lead all the way in near record time of 29.22, and while she took 29.53 to win the final, her performance was as good, if not better.
"From her wide draw she got checked in the run to the first turn and lost all her momentum,'' trainer Peter Lagogiane said.
"To see her balance up again, retain the lead, and then take off to win easily, is the sign of an exceptionally keen chaser.''
