The enigmatic Ritza Wotton, who had been unlucky in four of his five previous races, finally nailed the start and retained the early lead before posting a personal best 29.49 at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
The Mark Gatt-trained dog was never out of trouble when placed in three races at Wentworth Park and Dapto in December and January before leading early when third to Allan Keeping at headquarters on January 23.
After one of his luckless performances, Mark Gatt said of Ritza Wotton: "He brings it on himself, he seems to find a way of putting himself in an awkward position and then getting checked.''
Allan Keeping was favourite on Saturday night but he was the dog to bungle the start, while Ritza Wotton jumped in front and won by four lengths from another Mark Gatt-trained runner Go Jimmy, with the favourite a distant third.
Jason Magri, Allan Keeping's trainer, took out the opening event with Speedy Pie, who enhanced her marvellous strike rate to 16 wins from 34 starts.
Speedy Pie, who is owned by James Yip, a long-time client of Magri, had box four but went to the lead from box rise and won comfortably in a smart 29.69.
"She has good early speed and just needs a bit of room to move when she leaves the boxes,'' Jason Magri said later.
"When she gets clear air she can really use that great pace she has in the run to the first turn.''
Zipping Evania, having only her second test over 520m, gave Magri a winning double when she led throughout to easily win a fifth grade in 29.74.
And Magri's brother Ray trained Salim Shady to lead all the way in a handy 29.87 in a 520m fifth grade on Saturday night.
"I got Salim Shady to train around three months ago and he has now won four of his past five starts for me,'' Ray Magri said.
"A couple of strong finishers sat behind Salim Shady when he made the pace tonight but he gets to the line pretty well himself and ran home in 11.67.
"I'm not surprised because he is bred on staying lines, being a son of Pearl Of Tahiti.''
Zipping Serrano reeled off a sizzling first split of 5.37 to lead throughout in a near personal best 29.80 win for trainer Minnie Finn on Saturday night.
After the race Finn said: "This bitch has improved and her good fifth in a 401m sprint at Richmond on Wednesday did her the world of good for tonight's race.''
Trainer Preston Rowles considered Minh Alfie ideally drawn in box eight on Saturday night and his dog made full use of the wide draw to easily win a 520m fifth grade in 29.77.
Although he jumped only fairly, Minh Alfie swept around his rivals to lead going through the catching pen before holding on to win comfortably.
"Minh Alfie was feeling so well when I got him to the track tonight that he scratched a huge patch of grass away from the dirt before I kenneled him.
"He was jumping around and just raring to go.''
August Bob had not raced at Wentworth Park for nearly six months but returned in style for trainer Steve Fitch to notch his sixth win in 16 appearances in town on Saturday night.
August Bob's 29.79 was well wide of his personal best Wenty figures of 29.35 but is likely to improve with further racing.
