Up-and-coming sensation Like Wildfire has been paid the ultimate compliment by his owner-trainer Michael Ivers declaring him "the fastest dog I've ever had."
Ivers bestowed the glowing accolade on Like Wildfire after the dog followed his 29.76 debut win at Wentworth Park on April 19 with a stunning last-to-first nine lengths winning romp at Gosford on Tuesday.
Like Wildfire covered the 515m in best of the night figures of 29.35 and set a new run home record in the process.
Ivers said: "After that performance I'm prepared to say this dog is the fastest I've had, better than 'Batman' (Tornado Tears) or Space Star.''
Tornado Tears won 35 of 69 races and earned over $988,000 for Ivers while Space Star's 25 wins from 39 starts generated $454,000 prizemoney for the central coast owner-breeder.
"I will nominate Like Wildfire for a 603m race at Gosford next Tuesday and I'm confident he will run 720m on his ear,'' Ivers said.
"Unlike Tornado Tears and Space Star, at this stage Like Wildfire won't be going to Victoria to continue his racing, providing I can get starts with him here he will be staying in NSW.''
Shelly Speed, a gift from breeders Pam and Paul Braddon to western districts hobby trainer Lisa Worthy, will be chasing her fifth win in five starts when she contests Friday's 350m fourth race at Goulburn.
Shelly Speed was part of a winning treble for Worthy, a nurse's assistant from King's Plains, 175km from the Goulburn course last Friday, and will be all the rage when she exits box one in this week's ninth event.
Following the closure of Bathurst, Goulburn has become the "go to" track for Worthy, who landed wins last Friday with Shelly Speed, kennel star Apollo Speed, and that greyhound's litter sister Scarlett Rose.
"I work at a local hospital and because Friday is my day off it works out perfectly for me to race at Goulburn,'' Worthy said.
"I was fortunate to get Shelly Speed as a gift from the Braddons because they had trouble getting her going when she was being broken in so they gave me the chance to have a crack with her.
"Pam and Paul have won races with three other members of Shelly Speed's litter, sired by Pindari Express and whelped in July, 2021, by Hope's A Chance, who has been a terrific producer.
"Hope's A Chance now has a litter of 10 by Feral Franky who are just under six months of age and naturally I would love to get my hands on one of them.'
Last Friday Apollo Speed, a son of Aston Dee Bee and older half brother to Shelly Speed, continued his remarkable strike rate when he notched his 22nd win in 45 starts while his sister Scarlett Rose made it six from 27.
Each of Worthy's 350m winners last week clocked remarkably similar time, with Shelly Speed winning in 19.92, Apollo Speed in 19.93 and Scarlett Rose clocking 19.94.
Worthy has a hefty representation at Goulburn this Friday, with Be Johnny in race one, Scarlett Rose, Bridie's Sugars and Apollo Speed in race four, and Shelly Speed in the ninth event.
