Trainer Jason Magri is entitled to be wondering "what might have been" after Allan Keeping clocked a sizzling 29.37 fastest time of the night in winning Saturday's top grade 520m race at Wentworth Park.
Allan Keeping had been bundled out of the Million Dollar Chase when he finished seventh to Smooth Plane in his Wentworth Park qualifier on October 4 although Magri has qualified for next Friday's final with Canya Sapphire.
But while Canya Sapphire has brilliant early pace, Magri would have loved to have seen Allan Keeping in the $1 million final.
"Two out Allan Keeping would beat Canya Sapphire for sure,'' Magri said on Saturday night.
"He is a very fast dog and when he nailed the start tonight and ran middle splits of 13.74 and 17.77 before running home in 11.60.
"But unfortunately he blew the start in his MDC qualifier and he tends to be a very risky beginner.
"He only seems to come out as fast as he did tonight about one in every 10 starts.
"His litter brother Robert Keeping has won 14 of 29 races for me but Allan Keeping is quicker.''
Magri is on the crest of a wave as he also took out a quinella on Saturday when Zipping Evania edged out kennelmate Santino Kade in a 29.76 520m fifth grade.
Hunter Valley trainer Jason Mackay agreed to take Townsville Cup consolation final winner Federal Bullet after watching videos of the dog's recent races and the greyhound scored an impressive first-up Wentworth Park win on Saturday night.
Despite missing the jump and colliding soon after, Federal Bullet swept into third place on the back straight and surged to the lead soon after, coming away to win a 520m fifth grade by four lengths in 29.75.
Jodie and Andy Lord took out the 2020 Young Star with Rapallo and they won heats of this year's event on Saturday with She's A Pearl's son He's A Pearl in 29.67 and Fearless Bandit in 29.65.
Minnie Finn is another trainer who has tasted success in the Young Star, winning the 2022 final with Zipping Orlando, and she landed two heats of the 2025 version on Saturday.
She won with Back Tomorrow, who led all the way in 29.87, and Winsome Josie, who quickly led before scorting in 29.76.
And Finn's daughter-in-law Courtney Barnes ensured a strong family representation in Friday night's $25,000 to the winner Young Star final by winning heat five with Shaq Keeping in 29.78.
But the greyhound they all have to beat in the Young Star is the Natina Howard-trained Zipper On Time, who scored her seventh straight Wentworth Park win when she led all the way to take out heat seven in 29.45, clearly setting the time standard for the series.
Zipper On Time has now had 10 starts for nine wins and a second, posting her quickest 520m time on Saturday with a dazzling opening section of 5.37.
