JUNGLE Johnny stole the show from the nine heat winners of the group one National Derby and National Futurity at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, notching his 21st win in 37 starts as he took out the top grade 520m event.
The Mark Gatt-trained Jungle Johnny was third early but after being second behind Summer Quinn at the first turn, launched to the front soon after and won by eight lengths in 29.17, a mere.01sec outside his personal best WP time.
After the race trainer Mark Gatt's father Frank Gatt, who had cheered his bitch Ritza Tiana home in an earlier National Futurity heat, said: "That was Jungle Johnny's best WP performance because this track was not fast tonight.
"It had been turned over last Monday so on a quick surface I reckon Jungle Johnny might have broken the 29.04 track record.''
Trainer Mark Gatt had another successful night, winning heats of the National Futurity with Ritza Tiana in 29.87 and the National Derby with Wyndra All Heart in 29.82.
Gatt alongside Ritza Tiana
Fastest Futurity figures were posted by the Peter Lagogiane-trained Magical Ang, who exploded from the boxes and led throughout in 29.84, scoring by a length from Winsome Josie and the favourite Eriza Sparkles.
Just 18 minutes later, Magical Ang's litter sister and kennelmate Hotshot Lily overcame a moderate getaway to win her heat in 30.02.
Ritza Tiana ran down Blue Labubu in heat three in 29.87 while Before The Dawn toppled early leader Upended to win heat four in 30.05.
Magical Ang carved out a sensational first split of 5.36, and trainer Lagogiane said later: "I think she is capable of going even quicker to the first mark.
"She has always had dazzling early pace but her sister Hotshot Lily is stronger at the finish.
"And I was really pleased with Hotshot Lily's run because she bungled the start but still managed to push through and lead at the first turn.''
Hotshot Lily was all smiles after progressing to the Group 1 National Futurity final
Veteran trainer Dave Irwin's King Of Gods set the time standard for the Derby heats, storming home to edge out the Mark Gatt-trained Ritza Tears in 29.60.
Gatt's Wyndra All Heart got up in the last stride to beat Late In Winter in his heat in 29.82, just .02sec slower than the Jay Opetaia-trained Red Rock Razzle took to lead all the way in heat five.
Freight Express, making his WP debut, clocked a fast early spli.t of 5.38 in his all the way Derby heat win in 29.95, while Zipping Columbus, trained in Victoria by Matt Lanigan, led all the way for leading NSW breeders Marty and Fiona Hallinan for a 30.11 heat win.
Freight Express improved his record to 24: 13-2-1 for the Eaton kennel
Jodie Lord was without a winner in Saturday's group one heats but she trained the group two Summer Distance Plate winner in Ayden's Warrior, who toppled pacemaker Light Of Mine by one-and-a-half lengths.
Ayden's Warrior, who went into the Plate final boasting a personal best 720m WP time of 41.65, took 42.24 to score, indicative of the track being far from fast on Saturday night.
Ayden's Warrior's winning time was well outside the 41.60 race record established in 2025 by Late Night News.
