He's A Pearl, winner of last week's GRNSW Richmond Puppy Classic, notched his fifth Wentworth Park win on Saturday night and Andy Lord, who trains the dog along with wife Jodie, is now planning an ambitious campaign for the 26-month-old youngster.
On Saturday, He's A Pearl just managed to hold out Joanne in the charge to the first turn and after securing a big break in the middle stages, staved off a late finish by Joanne to win by a length in a slick 29.61.
After the race Andy Lord said: "We plan to nominate He's A Pearl for Saturday night's heats of the Ladbrokes Paul Wheeler at Wentworth Park.
"I think He's A Pearl is ready to take on all comers, and after the Paul Wheeler we can get him ready for the age-restricted National Derby heats at Wenty on January 17.''
He's A Pearl, a son of the Lords' great bitch She's A Pearl, was part of a winning treble on Saturday night for the Gunning trainers, as they also won with Secret Bandit in 29.69 and with Texas Bandit in 29.85.
Fastest time on Saturday night was posted by the 23-month-old Back Tomorrow, who recorded her fourth win from her past five starts when she led all the way in 29.59.
Back Tomorrow must now rank among the early favourites for the group one bitches' classic, the Ladbrokes National Futurity, which gets under way with heats at Wentworth Park on January 17.
Blazin' Fire celebrated his return to NSW after six months' campaigning in Melbourne with a six lengths all-the-way win in a nippy 29.79 on Saturday night.
Blazin' Fire's owner-trainer Jeff Eaton said later: "I sent him to Victorian trainer Correy Grenfell and he did a good job with the dog, he won a race at Sandown and ran several placings.
"But Blazin' Fire just didn't seem to settle in properly down there so I brought him home.
"Since he has been back with me he has had three wins and two seconds from his past five starts and I can tell he is just happy to be home.
"Blazin' Fire has a lot of personality, I do nothing with him, just let him out for a run around every morning, and then when he barks that's telling me he wants to go back into his kennel.''
A shoulder injury ruled pre-post favourite Total Faith out of Saturday night's Porta Canas Memorial Masters but trainer Alan Clare was able to win the event with his "second stringer'' For Real Faith.
For Real Faith came from fourth on the home bend to win in the slow time of 30.67, which didn't surprise Clare.
"For Real Faith is six to eight lengths' slower than his brother Total Faith and really 520m is a bit short for him,'' Clare said.
"On the home turn I thought 'gee, he is going to run fourth and earn me $75 petrol money' but then he charged through to win and pick up $5975!''
Vic Sultana, fresh from winning Friday night's group two East Maitland Bowling Club Cup with Black Myth Wave, was back in the winner's circle at Wentworth Park on Saturday with Billy Ray's Girl.
Billy Ray's Girl was a close second to My Athena on the home turn but finished best to win by a head in 30.25.
After the race Sultana said: "Early in her career Billy Ray's Girl was going great at Richmond but couldn't reproduce that form at Wentworth Park.
"At least now she has won twice and run four placings at Wenty,'' said the 73-year-old Sultana, who has been training greyhounds since he was 18.
Still Available, who will be eligible for Masters races when he turns four on Boxing Day, notched his 15th WP win and took his earnings to $128,000 for owners Paul Roach and Garry Coles when he led throughout in a 520m fifth grade on Saturday.
Still Available covered the 520m in 29.74, wide of his personal best of 29.58, and trainer Garry Coles said: "He is a couple of tenths outside the really top dogs now so I'm looking forward to getting him into Masters races.''
