Fernando’s Glory made a spectacular Wentworth Park debut on Saturday night, posting fastest time of the four heats of the group 1 Ladbrokes Peter Mosman Opal.
The Michael Hardman-trained youngster, who is just 23 months old, led throughout in heat two, winning by eight lengths in a sizzling 29.71 and clocking outstanding sections of 5.41 and 13.78 before running home in a smart 11.78.
Analysing gave Hardman a second finalist in next Saturday's Opal at Wentworth Park when she jumped only midfield but quickly led to win heat three in 29.96.
Analysing, who had box two, recorded splits of 5.45 and 13.87 and ran home in 11.91.
"Fernando's Glory's fast time did not surprise me because I trialled her at Wentworth Park when the track reopened a couple of weeks back and her figures that night were unequalled, while nothing trialling the following night matched her time either,'' Hardman said.
"She has been lightly raced due to a seasonal spell interrupting her career but she showed me enough early on to suggest she was going to be good.
"Analysing had an inside draw tonight but she is not box dependent and is so consistent, she will run 29.96 every day of the week.''
Good Odds Cash was hot favourite for heat four but bungled the start completely before rattling home to finish third to Ziggy Star, who ran down Go Forward Barbs in 30.06.
Ziggy Star is a litter sister to crack stayer Miss Ezmae and is raced by that greyhound's owner Lyndall McIntyre.
Ziggy Star is prepared by dual Million Dollar Chase winning trainer Peter Lagogiane who said on Saturday: "It's all about the start with this greyhound.
"Tonight Ziggy Star jumped well and after being beaten for early speed by Go Forward Barbs, she got nicked at the first turn and lost a little ground.
"She gave the leader a big start to get up and win by a half length and I think Ziggy Star can find a couple of tenths.''
She's Salacious won the opening Opal heat in 30.03, leading throughout for trainer Peter Sims just three nights after leading all the way in 29.88 at Wentworth Park.
Aston Barak, trained in NSW by Jason Fletcher for SA-based Ray Borda, one of the world's most successful owner-breeders, set the time standard for the group 1 Vic Peters Classic, leading throughout in the fifth heat in 29.60.
Aston Barak took his Wentworth Park tally to five wins from nine appearances with his seven lengths win, clocking sizzling early splits of 5.43 and 13.70 and getting home in a not too shabby 11.77.
Sound Of Silence, whose recent racing has been over middle and staying distances, was not far behind him in taking out heat four by 14 lengths in 29.65.
Trained by Frank Hurst, whose wife Tracey prepares the unlucky Good Odds Cash, Sound Of Silence came out "under the lids'' and was not headed on the way to running home in a stunning 11.65.
Zipping Kansas blew the start in heat one of the Vic Peters but assisted by a dream rails run at the first turn, powered over the top of the pacemakers to win clearly in 29.89.
Slightly faster was second heat winner Special Blend, who exploded from box eight and led throughout in 29.86, producing an initial split of 5.49 and running home in 11.80.
Special Blend was handled by former GBOTA racing manager Ellen Harris, who was deputising for her father, the dog's trainer, Ashley Dwyer.
"Special Blend trialled 29.90 at Wenty before he won there in June so when he jumped so brilliantly tonight his time didn't surprise me,'' Dwyer said.
"I might have to get Ellen to handle him in the final next Saturday because it seems Special Blend begins really fast for her.''
Before Special Blend began racing, Dwyer was quoted as predicting he was a group race greyhound in the making.
Bandit Ned took his record to a remarkable 14 wins from 17 starts when he won heat three of the Vic Peters in 30.11.
Bandit Ned jumped well from box six but after having difficulty getting around the speedy Soul To Squeeze, was relegated to a clear second behind Cosmic Boom leaving the back straight before charging home to score by nearly seven lengths.
