Ken Burnett had just reached the summit of greyhound racing’s Everest. The dog that “means everything” to him, Power And Glory, had just won the holy grail, the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg final, and the emotion hit Ken like a tsunami.
“If everybody in greyhound racing could feel this moment,” he said, pausing and desperately trying to stay composed, but losing that battle. “I don't know what's going on in my head at the moment, but it's just an unbelievable feeling.
“He's been such a good dog for us, and he's just proven tonight how good he actually is. He's come out of the six and he's had to do the tough way and you know … we're so proud of the dog.”
Power And Glory, a $6 chance, trailed pacemaker Lakeview Emily to the back straight and grabbed the lead shortly after before holding off the gallant Jungle Johnny to score by just over a length.
The winner rocketed over the 520m in 29.15, the fastest in the history of the race and .12sec inside the previous Easter Egg record of 29.27 posted by WA's Tommy Shelby in 2021.
Good Odds Cobber, the $3 favourite, did not jump as well as expected from box one and was never a winning chance, finishing fifth.
“We've known for a long time, how good he is, but it's just that he was unlucky with box draws and unlucky with where he was positioned in fields at times, but we always knew how good he was,” Burnett said.
“We (he and his partner Amanda Brunton) love doing what we're doing, and we've dedicated our life to it. So we've got a great result tonight.
“I just wish Jeff (Eastburn, the owner) was able to be here with us, but he's in hospital but he'll be over the moon. My family will be screaming. I've got my boys here tonight, they don't come too often, but they're here tonight so we can enjoy it together.”
Saturday's other group one the Farrell's Association Cup was taken out by Apilla, trained in South Australia by Damien Smith.
Apilla became only the third SA-trained greyhound to win Wentworth Park's biggest long distance event, emulating the great Adelaide bitches Ascapella Miss and Bayroad Queen who had won the Cup final in 1974 and 1982 respectively.
Apilla won by six lengths and covered the 720m in 41.97, quicker than Palawa King's 2024 figures of 42.06 but well outside the 41.53 race record established by Minnie Finn's Zipping Orlando in 2023.
Max Capacity, runner-up to Apilla on Saturday night, was desperately unlucky as he was badly checked at the first turn when he collided with Paw Dimetra, who had been attempting to cross to the rails from box eight.
Big Energy, sent from Victoria to trainer Jodie Lord for the Golden Easter Egg series, won The Ambrosoli, traditionally the Egg consolation final, in 29.45.
Big Energy's win was his fourth in five Wentworth Park appearances for Lord, and took the dog's earnings to almost $594,000.
Vista Yttrium, a bold purchase by three NSW owners from the all conquering Dailly kennels in Victoria, bolted away with Saturday's final of the Ausure Ultra Sense.
Trained by part owner Jay Opetaia, Vista Yttrium made light of his awkward box seven draw to be chasing outsider Bandit Chloe to the back straight and then pouncing on the lead and winning by five lengths.
Vista Yttrium covered the 520m in 29.47, outstanding time for fifth grader and a massive .50sec faster than last year's winner Au Contraire.
After the race James Kennedy, who shares ownership with Jeremy Moss and trainer Opetaia, said: "The Dailly family had Vista Yttrium going well when we bought the dog but Jay has taken him to another level.''
Ruth Matic trained the 2015 Magic Maiden winner Black Bear Lee and notched her second success in the $25,000 to the winner puppy final when Taw Galaxy led throughout to win Saturday's event by a head from Makati Lad in 30.06.
She trains Taw Galaxy for the greyhound's owner-breeder and former trainer Andrew Rowe, who recently handed the Magic Maiden winner over to Matic due to his own health problems.
A torn muscle forced Nangar Lady to miss a succession of big races this year but the Jodie Lord-trained bitch returned in emphatic fashion to lead throughout for a 14 lengths' win on Saturday night.
Having her first start since finishing fourth at Wentworth Park on February 1, Nangar Lady covered the 520m in a slick 29.80 and will now be set for the group three Ladies Bracelet, a $25,000 to the winner Wentworth Park race for bitches which gets under way with heats on April 26.
Trainer Lord's husband Andy Lord paid Nangar Lady the ultimate compliment on Saturday night, saying: "She is the complete greyhound.
"Nangar Lady is a good beginner, has plenty of early speed, is a terrific chaser and is strong at the end of 520m.
