A change in training technique almost certainly helped Rinsed The Lot prevail in his much-anticipated clash with new Bulli record holder Power And Glory at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Rinsed The Lot jumped in front from box two while Power And Glory began only fairly from box four and had no luck before running on strongly to finish second, a length behind the winner.
After the race Darryl Thomas, whose partner Michelle Sultana trains Rinsed The Lot, said: "The dog has been missing the jump too much so on Tuesday we took him to Appin for a trial up the straight.
"Appin has a drag lure and we were hoping that jumping with the lure starting off from in front of the boxes might get Rinsed The Lot to begin better tonight.
"It must have worked because he certainly came out smartly.''
Although Rinsed The Lot won Saturday's 520m fourth grade in a smart 29.53, just .12sec outside his personal best Wentworth Park figures, Thomas was not totally satisfied.
"I don't think Rinsed The Lot is going quite as good as he was a month or six weeks ago so we think he can improve on tonight's effort.''
Blue Goose Boy, who had not started for almost six months, won a 520m fifth grade on Saturday in an electrifying 29.47, running down hot favourite Cindy Keeping to win by just over a length.
Trainer Daniel Gatt said later: "Blue Goose Boy had been sidelined with a dropped pin muscle.
"He has been trialing really well but has been jumping poorly, just like he used to do when he was last in work.
"But tonight he came out running I think that is the first time in his life Blue Goose Boy has jumped fast like that.
"I will now get him ready for the Wentworth Park qualifying races for the Million Dollar Chase, which are being held on October 5.''
Nobody was more surprised at outsider Archie Luxe's victory in Saturday night's 1-3 Wins Final than trainer Allan Manwaring.
Archie Luxe, who had clocked 30.54 in finishing second to Big Town Skye in his heat on September 12, overcame interference at the first turn on Saturday to sweep around the field and hit the front turning for home.
He then drew away to score by nearly two lengths in a slick 29.82.
After the race trainer Allan Manwaring said: "He certainly surprised me because his litter brothers, Max Shiraz and Ashby Flash, who were unplaced in earlier races tonight, can beat him easily in trials.''
Exploded rocketed to favouritism for next month's Group 2 Sydney Cup with a dazzling all-the-way win in Saturday's top grade 720m event, stopping the clock at a flying 41.54.
Trained by Jason Mackay for Melbourne breeder-owner Vince Tullio, Exploded had broken the Grafton 660m record at his previous outing on September 8.
Saturday's Masters race was taken out by the Steve Fitch owned, bred and trained Cumbria Mal, who grabbed the lead at the top of the straight and won clearly in 29.96.
Cumbria Mal is by Fernando Bale from Fitch's marvellous brood bitch Hill Top Belle, with Saturday's win taking the earnings by this litter to a breathtaking $666,000.
Fitch said later: "When they began racing I was disappointed with this litter, they weren't as good as some of Hill Top Belle's earlier offspring.
"They looked set to be not much better than handy fifth graders but fellow trainer Andrew Bell assured me that Fernando Bale's progeny often don't come good until they are at least two years old.
"He was spot on because once they turned two they all grew a leg!''
