Fernando Hunter will spearhead trainer Michelle Sultana's powerful trio being set for this year's $100,000 to the winner Masters Meteor, to be held at Wentworth Park in October.
Fernando Hunter, near death from snake bite just over three months ago, returned to the track with a bang at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, leading all the way in 29.66, equal best time at the meeting.
Just 24 hours earlier Sultana had guided SA-owned veteran Aston Ulysses to victory in the $25,000 to the winner Pink Diamond at Victoria's Warragul course.
And with Connections, a brilliant front runner whose strike rate stands at a stunning 21 wins from 34 starts, no trainer has had a more impressive set of Masters Meteor candidates than Sultana.
"Aston Ulysses has now won over 400, 500, 600 and 700m, so naturally I'm very proud of him,'' Sultana said.
"But Fernando Hunter is something extra special because when he was bitten by that snake I didn't think he was going to live, not only to return to racing but to come back so brilliantly.''
Sultana's partner Darryl Thomas said: "No wonder we both really love that dog so much.
"We were so relieved to see him recover from the snake bite, but were astounded six weeks after the incident when Fernando Hunter started crying, wanting to get out and run, and began jumping up and down in his kennel, something he had never done before.
"So we took him to Bulli to let him have a gallop from the 340m boxes, just to keep him happy, and were astounded when he broke the track record.
"That told us he was not only keen to race again, but ready to win at Wenty, which he did so well last Saturday.''
Forbes owner-breeder Errol Hughes has been able to rebuild his home, destroyed by floodwaters in December, thanks to the exploits of his dog Palawa King.
Trained by neighbour and friend Jack Smith, Palawa King stormed home to win last Thursday night's $100,000 to the winner TAB Origin Distance Challenge, and returns to Albion Park for this Thursday's $107,000 Garrard's Superstayers Invitational over the same 710m journey.
"After the flood I needed to completely re-build 50 per cent of our house,'' Hughes said.
"So Palawa King certainly came good at the right time.''
Hughes showed keen judgment when he purchased Palawa King's dam Maximum Dos, a bitch so modestly performed she won just five of 51 races, mostly on Victorian bush tracks.
"She failed to win in four starts for me but I wanted her because of her breeding, her dam Cracker Jack Lil won 26 races and was a group one performer,'' Hughes said.
"I bought her intending to mate her with Jack Smith's dog Brad Hill Billy, and that union produced Mount Hope, a handy dog who won 14 races for me.
"Two of her pups sired by Orson Allen, called Palawa Prince and Palawa Princess, won maiden races/ for me at Young on June 7, but they are only average.
"But I struck gold when I put Maximum Dos to Jack Smith's champion Feral Franky, theirs is the litter than produced Palawa King.
"Since I was 14 years old I've fiddled around with thoroughbreds, trotters and for the past 30 years with greyhounds, but Palawa King is the best I've had.''
Palawa King and Zipping Orlando will fly the flag for NSW in Thursday night's Superstayers Invitational where they will take on Victorian great long-distance bitches First Picked and Korda.
