Eriza Sparkles had not been tried over 520m before Saturday night but her dazzling all the way win at Wentworth Park has earned her a tilt at next Saturday's heats of the group one Peter Mosman Opal.
Named after breeder-owner-trainer Steve Fitch's daughter-in-law, Eriza Sparkles began fast from box five and although tiring slightly in the straight, hung on to win by a neck in a smart 29.71.
Fitch is enjoying a tremendous run as his dog Cumbria Jack won by 13 lengths at Brisbane's The Q on Thursday night and will tackle this week's heats of the $650,000 Brisbane Cup.
After Eriza Sparkles' win on Saturday at Wentworth Park, Fitch said: "It might mean she misses out on some fifth grades but she deserves a crack at the Peter Mosman heats.
"When I educated Cumbria Jack, he was the fastest youngster I had broken in, but Eriza Sparkles went even quicker at the break-in stage.
"She won her 365m maiden at Nowra in a fast 20.35 and before tonight her only look at Wentworth Park was in a box-to-box trial, so she had not been over 520m before.
"Eriza Sparkles is a daughter of Gramercy Park who has had three litters and been retired.
"She was re-homed recently as a pet, as because I have so many brood bitches I usually retire them after three litters.''
Another Saturday night winner set to contest the Peter Mosman Opal heats is Aussie's Queen, who led throughout to win a 520m fifth grade in 29.72.
After Aussie's Queen notched her fourth win in seven starts, trainer Mick Hardman said: "If you saw her trial on her own you would wonder how she could win anything.
"She is not a trial dog, she is a race bitch, and grows a leg when she competes against another greyhound.
"A lot of dogs are like that, and Zulu Warlord, a top sprinter I trained who finished up winning 26 races, was even likely to pull up and not go around at all if I trialled him on his own.''
Trainer Garry Coles attributed Still Available's tiring second at Wentworth Park on June 14 to his contesting race nine, as the dog tends to play up in the race night kennels.
Coles breathed a sigh of relief when Still Available was drawn in race five on Saturday night and the dog led all the way from box seven, winning easily in 29.75.
It was Still Available's 12th Wentworth Park success and took his earnings past the $100,000 mark.
"I was so disappointed when Still Available led and got run down last week because the dog is strong and hard to catch when he makes the pace,'' Coles said.
"The only explanation I could come up with was that the dog must have 'cooked' himself after being so long in the kennels, and I gave him a great chance in tonight's earlier race.''
Next Saturday night features heats of the Peter Mosman Opal along with the group one Vic Peters Classic and Allan Keeping and Taw Galaxy ran great trials for that event with impressive wins at Wentworth Park on Saturday.
Allan Keeping overcame an unusually slow getaway to win for Jason Magri in 29.72, while Taw Galaxy showed improved box manners to lead throughout for Andrew Rowe in 29.81.
Taormina was placed just once in three starts in her Brisbane campaign over the past three weeks, but a return to Wentworth Park saw the Jodie Lord-trained bitch bounce back in dashing style on Saturday night.
Taormina began brilliantly from box five and led throughout in a 520m fifth grade, stopping the clock at a personal best 29.41sec.
