Hardaway Ranger's quicker than usual getaway was the key to the dog posting near record figures in his 400m win at Bulli on Saturday night.
Hardaway Ranger began brilliantly from box five and led throughout in a fifth grade to defeat the strong finishing favourite Lilly Banner by one-and-a-half lengths with Drink Moet just over five lengths away third.
The winner rocketed over the 400m in 22.09, .16sec outside the track record set by Pindari Express in February, 2019.
"Hardaway Ranger had clocked 22.15 previously at Bulli but I have never seen him jump as well as he did tonight,” trainer Ron Marsden said.
"That enabled him to get so close to the course record held by the champ, Pindari Express.
"Before the race I didn't think my dog could beat Lilly Banner, who had box one, and Drink Moet, who was drawn in two, because Hardaway Ranger had box five.
"But the fast start made all the difference.
"Until tonight I thought I might have sold the fastest members of this litter I bred by Fernando Bale from My Lady Day.
"I sold Connections, who is undefeated in seven races for Darryl Thomas, along with Boab, who has won five from eight starts for Ricky Brewer.
"Now I'm thinking maybe I have kept the fastest one after all!.''
Minter Blaze continued his exemplary form for trainer Michelle Sultana with a smart 26.29 runaway win in a 472m fifth grade.
At his first start for Sultana, Minter Blaze had finished second to boom puppy Zipping Conway at Wentworth Park before clocking a blistering 30.46 winning over 535m for her at Richmond on July 23.
On Saturday Minter Blaze took advantage of a first turn scrimmage which saw the trio disputing the lead, kennelmates Tap Out Lucy and Red Hot Mouse, along with Rodeo Ethics, collide and virtually knock themselves out of the race.
The wide running Minter Blaze swept around that trio when they jammed up and bolted away for the easiest of wins.
"He had never seen Bulli before tonight so I was rapt in how good he went,'' trainer Michelle Sultana said.
"I had been happy when Minter Blaze drew box seven because he tends to get wide but I wasn't sure where he would be at the first turn as there was a lot of early pace in the race.
"But when the leaders tangled up at the first turn he handled himself well and shot to the lead.''
Super Estrella, who had no luck when third to Sound Of Silence in 33.24 over 590m at Bulli on Wednesday, turned the tables sharply on that greyhound with a near record win on Saturday.
Before the race trainer David Smith predicted the move from box seven on Wednesday to the rails trap on Saturday would make the difference and he was spot on, with Super Estrella not only leading throughout for a runaway win, but giving the long standing track record a shake in the process.
Super Estrella covered the 590m in 33.00sec, a mere .01sec outside the long standing record set by Segovia in October, 2016.
Super Estrella's kennelmate Calamity Ethics, who won over 400m at Bulli on Wednesday in 22.62, slashed those figures to 22.34 with her all-the-way over the same course on Saturday.
Prior to Saturday's win Smith had advised: "When she won on Wednesday there was a near hurricane blowing at Bulli, and that was why her time was nothing flash.
"She can go a lot quicker given normal weather conditions," he said.
The consistent Tarawi Harley prevented Smith enjoying a winning treble when he ran down Five Second Rule in the straight to win a 472m fifth grade in a slick 26.16.
Fast times were in abundance at Bulli with Ebby Infrared notching his 41st win in 98 starts with a personal best 25.97 in Saturday's top grade 472m event.
The Michael Eberand-trained dog led throughout from box four to win by six lengths in 25.97, well inside his previous best Bulli figures of 26.06 and lifting his earnings to well over $183,000.
