Back On The Highway To The Record

Sunburnt Highway crept closer to Bessy Boo's record of 34 Wentworth Park wins with his 31st victory at headquarters on Saturday night.

The Judith Richardson-trained warrior, the only 2016 whelping in Saturday's race, led throughout to defeat his old rival Good Odds Harada in 29.93, just .28sec slower than the Judith Richardson trained greyhound's personal best Wenty time of 29.65.

Sunburnt Highway had finished behind Good Odds Harada at his two previous Wentworth Park appearances but turned the tables on Saturday night when he jumped in front, leaving his opponent was trapped outside Latrell To Excel in the early stages.

Sunburnt Highway turned five in August while Good Odds Harada, eight months his junior, was the second oldest runner in Saturday's race.

Sunburnt Highway has now had 137 starts while Bessy Boo retired in December, 2016, after winning 44 of his 158 races, all but 10 of those wins at Wentworth Park.

Despite the name, Bessy Boo was a male greyhound who was presented to his owner Ashley Wilson as an engagement gift.

Trainer Alan Proctor recalled how surprised he was when he saw Bessy Boo's registration papers and pointed out to his owner that her greyhound was not female.

"Ashley just didn't know,'' Proctor said.

"Bessy Boo won the 2014 group 1 Peter Mosman Classic but did not look like being anything special when he started racing.

"He went only fair in his first post-to-post slip but at the time I was heartened when legendary trainer John Finn came to me early in the dog's career and predicted Bessy Boo was going to be very good.''

Bessy Boo retired at four years and 10 months of age, virtually a juvenile compared to old Sunburnt Highway, who continues to attempt to overhaul Proctor's wonderful performer.

Victorian owner Linda Edgerton, who raced the immensely talented but enigmatic Good Juan, got a quick return for her latest high priced purchase when Doonside Hub won first up at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

Edgerton paid $120,000 for Good Juan, who produced some sensational last-to-first performances for Hunter Valley trainer Harry Sarkis, and forked out $25,000 for get Doonside Hub.

Doonside Hub fell at his first start over 330m at Richmond, before winning twice in fast times there for trainer Michael Galea.

Sarkis then bought the dog on Edgerton's behalf and won first-up with him over 388m at Gosford on October 12.

On Saturday Doonside Hub led all the way in a moderate 30.38 but Sarkis is confident the dog has plenty of improvement ahead.

"That was the first time Doonside Hub had tackled 520m,'' Sarkis said.

"After the Gosford win I gave him a post-to-post hand-slip at Wenty and he clocked a respectable 24.46.

"With tonight's run under his belt Doonside Hub can only get much better.''

Doonside Hub clocked a nippy first split of 5.47 on Saturday but ran home in a slow 12.18 so was obviously getting tired at his first 500m plus test.