Taormina zoomed to early favouritism for September's Group One Ladbrokes Dapto Megastar with a sixth consecutive win at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
The Jodie Lord-trained flying machine produced her best performance yet, leading throughout from box four and carving out sensational second and third splits of 13.69 and 17.72 on the way to a personal best 29.29 for the 520m trip.
When Taormina began her six race winning streak at Wentworth Park on June 21, Lord's husband Andy declared the Megastar was their bitch's mission.
"Dapto will be made to order for a brilliant front runner like Taormina,'' Andy Lord said.
And Taormina seems to be getting stronger with every race, as her run home time on Saturday was an electrifying 11.57.
Taormina
Firethorn ran a slashing trial for next month's National Distance Championship series with an all-the-way win at her first Wentworth Park 720m test on Saturday night.
The Mark Moroney bred, owned and trained bitch, won easily in 41.85, with Glitzy Ethics running down Firethorn's kennelmate and litter brother Goldmine Fire to secure second placing.
"I trialled Firethorn over 720m at Wentworth Park last Monday and she clocked 42.12 so she improved a bit tonight,'' trainer Mark Moroney said on Saturday.
"I was slightly concerned about her backing up to race over 720m just five days after a trial over that distance but she looked bright as a button on Tuesday morning after that hit-out.
"But maybe the run did take the edge off her because in her trial Firethorn ran home in 15.38 but tonight her run home time was not as good at 15.48.
"Now I probably won't bring Firethorn and Goldmine Fire back to Wentworth Park before the NSW Distance Championship in mid-August.''
Trainer Jason Mackay was not surprised when his dog Tracker gave a start and a narrow beating to the brilliant Foreign Capital at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Foreign Capital, who had won in 29.37 at Wentworth Park, led clearly but Tracker, despite a slow start, was second going through the catching pen and finished too strongly in the straight.
"Tracker can clock amazing times in solo trials,'' Jason Mackay said later.
"His problem is he is an ordinary beginner and he wants to use a bit of the track.
"But I reckon if I trialled him solo around Wentworth Park he would clock 29.50.
"Earlier in his career Tracker wanted to run wide and then yielded when put under pressure from dogs on his outside.
"But as he has matured he still gets wide but drives up hard and doesn't succumb to pressure.''
Kangaroo Jack will be set for the $50,000 to the winner Masters Meteor at Wentworth Park in October following his impressive all-the-way win in 29.63 on Saturday night.
After the race trainer Syd Swain said: "Somebody came up to me before the race and queried whether Kangaroo Jack, who turned four on June 30, was too old.
"I pointed out he was the youngest dog in this race tonight!''
Swain's partner Beth Cook said: "Kangaroo Jack had a little injury and has taken a while to get back to his best form and that is simply due to his age.
"As dogs get older, if they have an injury setback, it takes them longer to reach their peak again.''
Michelle Sultana trained the first two winners on Saturday night, My Picasso who won in 29.88 and Massaro who scored in 29.70.
"They can both begin a lot better than they did tonight,'' Sultana said later.
"But I was pleased with the way Massaro pushed through along the rails to hit the front at the first turn.
"Actually I don't think he really likes being there (in box one) and might be happier drawn in the middle of the track.''
Skedaddle Arlo, a $12 chance, took his record to an impressive 16 wins from 35 starts with a strong finishing personal best win in 29.66 in a 520m fifth grade on Saturday.
