When Black Zambora led throughout at Wentworth Park on Saturday night it was her second 520m success there within 72 hours, a far cry from how she was shaping up just over a month ago.
At her first 520m test Zambora led throughout in 30.42 at Wentworth Park last Wednesday, posting a smart first split of 5.45, and followed up with a repeat all the way performance on Saturday in 30.26, after an opening section of 5.47.
Trainer Scott TYSON said: "It wasn't until recently that I did not think Black Zambora would ever see out 520m, I thought she was going to be purely a short course bitch.
"But a couple of weeks back I trialled her at LADBROKES GARDENS and that hit-out gave me some confidence when I entered her over 520m at Wentworth Park last Wednesday.''
TYSON also has a high opinion of Black Zambora's lightly-raced litter sister Zambora Tiger, who resumes after an injury-enforced spell against boom Grafton-trained sprinter Little Zephyr in race 10 at Maitland tonight.
Zambora Tiger has not raced for over two months after a win and a second over 388m at Gosford, while Little Zephyr is undefeated in two Maitland 450m races, clocking "top grade" figures of 25.07 and 24.91.
Ayden O'Donnell had a dream introduction to greyhound racing when he paid $4000 for Big Butters as a pup so it was a given he would breed from that outstanding bitch and continue his involvement in the sport.
Irrational, a son of Barcia Bale and Big Butters, scored his seventh win from 17 starts and his second at Wentworth Park when he ran down ZIPPING Striker and then easily hold off ZIPPING Rubble to win by five lengths in 30.38 on Saturdayc night.
Big Butters had 28 wins and 14 placings from 63 starts, earned over $95,000, was a track record holder, and posted fast times like 29.69 and 42.29 over the Wentworth Park 520m and 720m trips, 29.82 for 520m at Dapto and sizzling 34.22 and 41.54 successes over 600m and 715m at LADBROKES GARDENS, and reached the final of the inaugural Million Dollar Chase back in 2018.
Andrew Crouch, who prepared Big Butters for O'Donnell and is the trainer of Irrational, explained how the dogs' owner got into greyhound racing.
"I was coaching an indoor soccer team and Ayden was among the players,'' Crouch said.
"Through me he became interested in greyhounds and once he bought Big Butters and had so much instant success he was always going to remain involved.''
Tomorrow afternoon's 590m Southern Engine Reconditioning Stakes at Bulli features a mouth-watering clash between the two most exciting stayers in NSW, ZIPPING Kansas and Stanley Road.
In what looms as a dress rehearsal for next month's group 1 Association Cup over 720m at Wentworth Park, ZIPPING Kansas will exit box one with Stanley Road in box four.
The Bulli 590m record, set by Jason Mackay's Segovia at 32.99 nearly six years so, could go by the board.
David Smith's Super Estrella gave Segovia's long-standing time standard a mighty nudge when she won in 33.00 last July while Trunkey Bill set a new record in January, clocking 32.95.
