Cumbria Jack has been a "lear jet" from day one but can now lay claim to being the best young greyhound in Australia after his win on Saturday night made him the equal fastest dog to race at Wentworth Park.
A certainty beaten when second at Wentworth Park a week earlier, Cumbria Jack led throughout in Saturday's top grade 520m race and won by nearly seven lengths in 29.04, matching the track record set by Dalwhinnie 12 months ago.
The win lifted breeder-owner-trainer Steve Fitch's dog to 15 wins from 21 starts and cemented him as early favourite for next month's Million Dollar Chase.
Fitch came within a half-length of winning the Million Dollar Chase in 2023 when Cumbria Kid, closely related to Cumbria Jack, finished second to Jay Is Jay.
On Saturday Cumbria Jack , who is not always a brilliant box dog, nailed the start perfectly and posted sensational second and third sectional times of 13.57 and 17.58 before running home in a power-laden 11.46 to get within a "whisker" of Dalwhinnie's year-old record.
Zipper On Time made her Wentworth Park record five wins from five starts with another all-the-way win on Saturday night, reeling off a personal best first split of 5.35 on the way to clocking 29.60, .01sec inside her previous best figures posted on August 28.
After the race Robert Howard, whise wife Natina owns and trains Zipper on Time, said: "Her mission at this stage are the heats of the Young Star at Wentworth Park on October 11.
"We don't think she is experienced enough to contest the Million Dollar Chase.
"After the Young Star series our plan is to send her to Melbourne to be trained by Jason Thompson, because there are good opportunities for a bitch like her down there.''
My Bread Roll, another impressive all-the-way winner at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, is likely to tackle Saturday night's Million Dollar Chase qualifiers.
My Bread Roll scored her seventh win in 20 starts for owner-trainer Susan Smith, clocking far and away her quickest Wentworth Park time of 29.62.
"She can certainly get out of a box, can't she?'' exclaimed Smith after My Bread Roll's win.
"I will probably nominate her for the MDC qualifiers at Wentworth Park and if she doesn't reach the semi-finals she can start in the heats of the Young Star on Saturday week.''
My Bread Roll has always had ability and when she trialled at The Gardens as an unraced puppy, she was so impressive a leading Sydney trainer offered Smith $30,000 for her.
Smith said: "It might sound like a good offer but I would not consider selling such a well bred and talented young bitch for that sort of money.''
The Young Star series is hotting up with See This, who showed dazzling early pace to lead all the way in 29.75 on Saturday night, also being set for those heats.
See This, owned and trained by Kristy Sultana, recorded fast early splits of 5.38 and 13.71 on Saturday, after making the pace before finishing second, beaten a length in 29.84, by Zipping Kaden a week earlier.
After Saturday night's win, Kristy Sultana said: "I expected him to get to the line more strongly tonight because last week he was having his first go over 520m.''
Michelle Sultana and Darryl Thomas won the 2023 Masters Meteor with Fernando Hunter, owned by champion jockey Brenton Avdulla, and are disappointed their dog You Never Lose, also part-owned by the group one winning hoop, is ineligible for the 2025 Meteor heats on October 9.
On Saturday night You Never Lose scored his 10th win in 34 starts when he led throughout for a tiring 29.72 win in a 520m fifth grade.
"He is racing on old legs these days,'' trainer Michelle Sultana said later.
"You Never Lose turns four in January so is too young to tackle the Meteor, which is a shame because he will be better off when he is up against older dogs.''
Saturday night's 720m race went according to script with $2.10 favourite Late Night News coming from fifth early and third on the back straight to win comfortably from third favourite Suribachi and second fancy Lady Wilson, who led to the home bend.
That trio, along with up and coming Grafton trained stayer Firethorn, look set to dominate the forthcoming 720m Sydney Cup series at Wentworth Park.
