She was the youngest and most inexperienced finalist but that didn't stop Ritza Sophie storming home to win Saturday night's group one Peter Mosman Opal at Wentworth Park.
Trained by Daniel Gatt, Ritza Sophie came from behind the favourite Ritza Tiana, trained by Gatt's brother Mark, to win running away by just over a length.
Zipping Violet, trained by Courtney Barnes, set up a big lead early and was still in front on the home turn, but faded to be a half-length away third.
Ritza Sophie, who does not turn two until late October, was having only her sixth race but covered the 520m in race record time of 29.55, .04sec inside the previous record held by 2023 winner Nangar Lucy.
The final was a bonanza for the Gatt brothers' father Frank Gatt, who bred and owns the winner and runner-up, so collected a total of $130,000 first and second prizemoney.
Dubbo trainer Charmaine Roberts landed Saturday night's other group one final, the Vic Peters Classic, with her lightly raced youngster Grant Keeping.
Having only his second start at Wentworth Park, Grant Keeping began brilliantly from box five and led throughout in 29.31, .02sec inside the previous race record, set by Zipping Remus in 2023.
Grant Keeping, who has been campaigning in Brisbane, had just a single trial at Wentworth Park before winning his Vic Peters heat at Wentworth Park on June 27, when he recorded 29.64.
His win on Saturday night gave a special thrill to his handler Ben Easey, who assists trainer Charmaine Roberts on race night.
Easey handled a greyhound for the first time when Grant Keeping won his Vic Peters heat so has now won a $100,000 final with only the second dog he has led to the boxes.
Grant Keeping won the race at box rise, spearing out and posting early splits of 5.37 and 13.61, then going to the line strongly to win by two-and-a-half lengths from Victoria's Repellent, with Fabricator one-and-a-half lengths back third.
Grant Keeping's win gave Charmaine Roberts a winning double as she trained the quinella in race two when Boom Bam Ranger ran down Gemma Keeping, coming away to score by one-and-a-half lengths in a sizzling 29.38.
Boom Bam Ranger is raced by western Sydney solicitor Glenn Walters, Laura Camilleri and Daniel Brewer, the brother of successful trainer Ricky Brewer.
After Boom Bam Ranger's win, Glenn Walters said: "We bought this dog as a puppy for $8000 and I'm rapt in his win tonight because I wasn't confident he could beat his kennelmate Gemma Keeping.
"Boom Bam Ranger drew box eight and he really needs an inside draw, but fortunately he was able to rail underneath Gemma Keeping coming to the home turn and finished too strongly for her.
"We think his future will be over middle distances but that fast time tonight indicates he has more win 520m wins ahead.
"I have been crazy about greyhound racing since I was a teenager and at one stage held a bookmaker's licence, operating at tracks like Richmond and Lithgow.
"In fact I was the first lawyer ever to be granted a bookmaker's licence.''
Trainer James McGuinness considers Hard Style Girl can keep improving after she notched her third WP win in 13 appearances in a 520m fifth grade on Saturday.
"She is just coming off a seasonal condition so I expect her to get better as she races,'' McGuinness said.
Yass trainer Neil Staines' best greyhound Bandit Lynne was unplaced in the Peter Mosman Opal but he took out Saturday's opening race with Galba Model in a slick 29.66.
Galba Model is a noted front-runner but while she made the pace again on Saturday, she looked beaten when headed off by Winter Key leaving the back straight.
Surprisingly Galba Model came again in the straight to score by a head.
Neil Staines said later: "She has a bit of a flat spot in the middle stages but is stronger than she looks.
"Galba Model only turned two in March and has untapped potential, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't eventually become a handy middle distance performer.''
Row Beau's 29.68 win in Saturday's Sue Barton Memorial final was a fitting result as the winner is trained by Mark Gatt.
The race was named in honour of the late Sue Barton, the wife of GBOTA director Brian Barton, who owned the 2022 group one National Futurity winner Wyndra All Class.
Sue Barton passed away soon after Wyndra All Class' victory, and that greyhound was trained by Mark Gatt, who prepares Row Beau for owner Paul Bunyan.
Saturday's top grade 520m race went to the Jodie Lord-trained Magic Bandit, who has now won a dozen races at Wentworth Park, earning just over $157,000.
