Record Smashed In Wenty Park Romp

09:49 20 July 2026
GRNSW News
On the eve on Saturday night's WP card, trainer Mark Gatt declared Jungle Johnny was trialling faster than when he set a new Wentworth Park record of 29sec on March 5.

Gatt was more than vindicated when his superstar rocketed over the 520m trip on Saturday in unheard of Wenty figures of 28.86.


Owned by John Maroun and trained at Wilton by Gatt, Jungle Johnny returned after an injury setback of more than four months to win Saturday night's top grade race by 10 lengths.

Before the race Gatt said: "He just needs to bring his trial form to Wenty on Saturday" and Jungle Johnny did exactly that, reeling off amazing second and third splits of 13.48 and 17.47 en route to becoming the first greyhound to get under 29sec at headquarters.

Apart from Jungle Johnny's sensational performance, there were eye-catching wins on Saturday by the Jason Magri-trained Dennis Keeping in 29.36 and rising star Notts County in 29.41.

Dennis Keeping's all the way win gave Magri a double with Zipping Cascade scoring his first WP win in 29.80.

After that race Magri said: "Zipping Cascade has plenty of ability but so far he has not really nailed the start at WP.

"And I think he needs to get a bit stronger at the end of 520m.''

Notts County was only fourth away in his race but "bullocked" his way through the field to lead at the first turn, taking his WP tally to three wins from three appearances.

Trainer Ray Sultana said: "I bought this dog as a puppy but he had a major setback which is why, although he turned two in January, he has had just five starts.

"As a young dog I trialled him at WP and he clocked 29.50 but then he got sick, he contracted a bowel infection and had to be put on a drip to recover.''


Zipping Aladdin notched his sixth win in 14 starts for trainer Mick Hardman when he came from third early to win his 520m fifth grade by over seven lengths in a tidy 29.70.

Hardman said later: "When Cameron Hallinan, the son of Zipping Aladdin's owners, educated him, he assured me Zipping Aladdin was a very fast animal.

"It has taken Zipping Aladdin a while to fulfil that early promise but he is going great now.

"I gave him a post to post slip at WP last Monday and he ran home in 11.33, figures which are just incredible.''

Elderslie trainer David Smith got off to a flying start on Saturday, winning race one with Cha Cha Ethics in a personal best 29.66 and race three with Flash Ethics in 29.92.

"I must admit I was surprised at how fast Cha Cha Ethics went tonight,'' Smith said.

"She showed outstanding promise as a pup but then suffered a fractured pelvis and that's why tonight's win was only her fifth in 50 starts.

"Flash Ethics's win pleased me because he overcame a collision at the first turn and he is capable of going faster than the time he posted tonight.''

Jungle Johnny's trainer Mark Gatt joined Jason Magri and David Smith with a winning double on Saturday night when his marvellous veteran Sammy Ethan took out the Masters race over 520m, taking his tally at WP to 28 wins from 97 starts.