Zipping Kyrgios equalled Flying Ricciardo's race record of 29.28s when he won last year's Sires On Ice Black Top but the dog is going even better in preparation for Friday night's $40,000 to the winner group 2 final at LADBROKES GARDENS.
Minnie Finn, whose husband John trains Zipping Kyrgios said: "Not only is he as good as he was before the 2021 final but if anything he is going better.''
Last year Zipping Kyrgios covered the 515m in 29.28s, matching the race record figures posted by Flying Ricciardo 12 months earlier.
In last Friday night's heats Zipping Kyrgios won in 29.17 while his kennelmate Gatlin, this year's group 1 Vic Peters Classic winner, broke the track record with a 29.09 performance.
Gatlin's new time standard was short-lived with the Peter Lagogiane-trained French Martini becoming the first greyhound to break 29sec at The Gardens when she won her heat in 28.96.
Gatlin's flying figures didn't surprise Minnie Finn who said: "I gave him a box-to-box trial at The Gardens a few days before the Black Top heats and local clockers told me he equalled the fastest time ever run there.
"They said no dog had gone as quick since Take The Kitty, who was the NSW Greyhound of the Year in 2009.''
Jason MACKAY is the most successful Black Top trainer, having won with Snozz in 2010, Mister Twister seven years later, and with Aston Duke in 2019.
MACKAY has qualified Fat Boy's Dream (box three) for this year’s final.
French Martini's trainer Peter Lagogiane is convinced Gatlin is the dog to beat in the Black Top.
"He looks ideally drawn in box one, especially as Esther's Thrill, who has box two, steps to the right and has early pace,'' Lagogiane said.
"French Martini has box seven, the same draw she had in the TAB Million Dollar Chase, so that's not great.
"But she had box six when she broke the track record in her heat and she was able to reproduce that sizzling first split like she did when she won in 29.46, from box five, at WP on May 7.
"She pulled up a treat after last Friday night and is happy and well so now it's up to her.''
Despite drawing box five Victoria's Wow She's Fast looks to have Friday night's $100,000 to the winner group 1 Adelaide Cup at her mercy but there is plenty of NSW interest with Top Quality (box two), Dusty Bourbski (box seven) and Buzz Junkie (box eight) making the final.
Top Quality, now trained in SA by Ben Rawlings, won seven of 12 NSW starts for Darryl Thomas, while Michelle Lill handled Buzz Junkie for 10 wins from 21 NSW races.
Dusty Bourbskl is trained by Tom Dailly in Victoria but is raced by NSW western districts breeders Jason Lyne and Ross Davidson.
Dusty Bourbski is suited drawn wide but to have any chance of toppling Wow She's Fast, part-owner Ross Davidson conceded: "He is going to have to come out running.''
