The much vaunted three way clash between Jungle Johnny, Palawa King and Recycled turned into a one dog race when Jungle Johnny blew his rivals away with an eight lengths winning romp in a sensational 29.16 at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Trained by Mark Gatt for owner John Maroun, Jungle Johnny was fifth away but showed superb track sense to rail underneath wide running pacemaker Sinaloa Girl on the first corner.
After hitting the front going through the catching pen, Jungle Johnny reeled off fast second and third splits of 13.64 and 17.66 before running home in a scintillating 11.49.
His 520m time was .30sec quicker than his previous best of 29.46 at Wentworth Park, posted on January 4.
Jungle Johnny won at his 600m debut at Dapto on January 30 in near record time so the $100,000 to the winner Ladbrokes Country Classic, at Dubbo over 605m on March 22, now looks the logical goal for the goal.
But after Saturday's race owner John Maroun said: "That is probably an option but it is entirely up to Mark Gatt, he has free rein as far as when and where Jungle Johnny races.
"I bought this dog as a puppy for just $3000 and a mate of mine reared him on his property at Pheasant's Nest.
"But I put plenty of work into him and when Jungle Johnny was growing up and I go down there every weekend and play around with the dog, stirring him up with a squeaker toy and getting him used to the lead.
"Then when he was eight to 10 months old I would take him regularly to Thirlmere trial track and let him watch the older dogs go around as they trialled.
"Jungle Johnny got under 29.70 in his first 520m hit-out at Wenty and then he beat Dalwhinnie, who subsequently broke the track record, to win his maiden race.
"He has always had tremendous ability but Mark Gatt has turned him into a real race dog.
"I have given Mark a few dogs to train for me over many years and I've always wanted to give him one that could really run, because I knew he would bring out the best in him.''
Good Deed's time was a pedestrian 30.63 but as the saying goes "they don't write the time on the prizemoney cheque" and the Ken Markham-trained dog's win at Wentworth Park on Saturday was a dream come true for owner Mark Howard.
Good Deed gave Howard his first Wentworth Park winner in his more than six years as an owner, after he purchased the dog for $6000 from a Victorian owner around 14 months ago.
On Saturday Good Deed began well but was beaten for early pace and after dropping back to fourth in the middle stages, flashed home to win by a length in slow time.
Trainer Ken Markham said: "This dog is crying out for longer than 520m, he was just getting warmed up at the finish of tonight's race.
"He has kept improving because when I first got him he was running 17.30 up the straight at Appin, now he has got that down to 16.20.
"I'm pleased for the owner because he got his purchase price back in one hit tonight.''
Eloise Manwaring conceded kennelmate Marvel Zombie had helped her husband Allan's greyhound Ashby Flash score his second Wentworth Park win on Saturday night.
Ashby Flash was fourth on the back straight but was trailing pacemaker Stan's Dream coming to the home bend and finished best to win by a half length.
Stan's Dream's trainer Mick Hardman said: "My dog had box six and before the race my concern was that Marvel Zombie, who had drawn five and is a good beginner with plenty of early pace, might prevent my bloke getting a soft run to the lead.
"As it turned out Stan's Dream had to work hard to get around Marvel Zombie when they disputed the early lead and that gave Ashby Flash a sitting shot at us.''
Eloise Manwaring said: "Before the race Mick said he would have preferred that we had scratched Marvel Zombie but after the race I joked that our kennel's plan worked out perfectly.''
Go Lani's win on Saturday night in 29.69 gave trainer Mark Gatt a winning double while second quickest at the meeting was the 29.68 recorded by the Jodie Lord-trained Ayden's Warrior.
