When Tornado Tears set a new Wentworth Park 720m record of 41.38 in April, 2019, plenty of experts predicted those figures would be unchallenged for a decade.
But on Saturday night Sydney's Super Estrella, winner of the National Distance Championship at WP in 41.59 a week earlier, not only lowered that time but completely obliterated the record.
The David Smith-trained bitch led throughout to win by seven lengths from Oh Oh Range, from Dave Irwin's Grafton kennels, in a mind-boggling 41.21sec.
In a remarkable front-running performance, Super Estrella carved out the first 280m in 15.81, just .09sec outside the Wenty short course record set by Laurie's Flyer in December, 2020.
She even got under the 29sec mark for her first 520m so no wonder her trainer David Smith said after the race: "In terms of thrills that matched Super Estrella's National Distance Championship win.
"Although Super Estrella came out running, when Oh Oh Range got within about four lengths of her on the back straight I thought he might catch her.
"After all, Oh Oh Range ran her down in a 710m race at Albion Park in June.
"But just when I was getting concerned Super Estrella kicked away and when the time was semaphored I was naturally over the moon.
"It was a relief especially because Super Estrella was such a hot favourite, at $1.10 or $1.20, so that put a lot of pressure on us.
"That was Super Estrella's 30th win from 67 starts but her record might have been better only for Covid, because when the pandemic struck I could not chase a lot of big interstate races with her.''
Training honours on Saturday rested with Jason Magri, whose new addition Magical Magic set the 520m time standard of 29.58 in a fifth grade event while kennelmate Where's Rocky came from last to win the top grade 520m race in 29.88.
Magical Mavis, who was making her debut for Magri and her first appearance since June, posted slick early splits of 5.42 and 13.77 before running home in 11.77 to take her record to seven wins from 13 starts.
"She is owned by Amanda Tullio in Victoria, for whom I trained Persuasive, who was a finalist in the National Derby won by Slingshot Hooks at Wentworth Park in January,'' Magri said.
Where's Rocky's powerhouse win came after hot favourite Good Odds Cash was skittled by the wide running Zipping Lyris at the first turn.
That scrimmage presented Where's Rocky with a rails’ run, with Magri's dog going from last to third in a few bounds.
But Where's Rocky's run was full of merit as he had been checked at box rise from box five when the speedy Ichabod Mudd, who had box seven, veered left and collided with Magri's dog.
A trialling mix-up failed to prevent Fascinate Mel leading throughout in Saturday night's opening event for trainer Noelene Holloway in a nippy 29.97.
Fascinate Mel had not raced since July 30 but Holloway said after the race: "She has been running around happily at home but had not had any trialling.
"I was booked to trial at The Gardens earlier this week but when I arrived I was told I had only booked one trial, when I had wanted to put two dogs, including Fascinate Mel, behind the lure.
"I was forced to take her home again without a hit-out but I didn't think it would worry her and that's how it worked out.''
Fascinate Mel recorded a flying opening split of 5.39 on Saturday to set up an unbeatable lead in the middle stages before winning by just under a length.
