Big race winners Good Odds Cash and Jungle Deuce were expected to stage a thrilling duel at Saturday night's Wentworth Park meeting and they didn't let the punters down as they completed the quinella in the 520m Free-For-All.
Good Odds Cash jumped in front from box three and carved out a first split of 5.40 but Jungle Deuce, after a slow getaway from box seven, secured a "miracle" rails run at the first turn to be camped on the pacemaker's hindquarters leaving the catching pen.
Good Odds Cash recorded another sizzling second section of 13.81 but while Jungle Deuce's supporters were no doubt feeling reasonably confident going down the back straight, the noted strong finisher could make no impression in the run home and was just over a length astern at the winning post.
The Tracey Hurst-trained Good Odds Cash covered the 520m in 29.73, a mere .03sec outside her personal best Time recorded in five previous WP outings.
Time standard for the night was posted in race 11 when Jason Magri's Zipping Kansas got away better than usual and led throughout from box five, clocking early splits of 5.58 and 13.92 before winning by four lengths in 29.67.
Zipping Kansas' outstanding run home Time of 11.68sec accounted for his outstanding overall figures.
But it was significant that the quickest Times were late in the card, by Good Odds Cash in race eight, Cowgirl Ethics' 29.84 in race 10 and Zipping Kansas' best of the meeting in the final event, when the track surface had dried out considerably after being water-logged prior to race one.
That was why Mickey Doo's 29.82, with early splits of 5.45 and 13.90, in the opening event was especially meritorious.
Mickey Doo jumped in front and led throughout, with trainer Mark Davidson commenting: "He was a poor beginner when he began racing but while he still stands at the back of the boxes when I put him in, he is now anticipating the start perfectly.
When Ritza William led all the way to win a 520m fifth grade two hours later, he gave Davidson, an extremely popular Hunter Valley trainer, his first winning double at WP.
Fastest initial sectionals on Saturday night were the blistering 5.37 and 13.80 notched by the David Smith-trained Cowgirl Ethics, who continued a happy night for favourite backers with an all-the-way win in 29.84, her personal best Wenty figures.
The win took Cowgirl Ethics' tally to an impressive seven wins from a dozen appearances.
Country cups specialist Casual Glance's WP return had been widely anticipated and the Michelle Lill-trained greyhound stepped up to the plate with an all-the-way win in 30.29.
Although Casual Glance was expected to go faster once he was able to head off Tick Warrior and lead at the first turn, trainer Lill pointed out that the race had been her greyhound's first start beyond 500m in nearly a month.
"And the track was very sloppy on the rails, where Casual Glance was running,'' Lill added.
Saturday night's sole 720m event was taken out by rookie stayer Zipping Virginia, who bungled the start from box two but railed underneath her three rivals to hit the front going through the catching pen.
Trainer John Finn said later: "Her Time of 42.65 was disappointing but I think that run will improve her.
"At least as far as the Time goes, I certainly it does."
