Steve Fitch's champion sprinter Cumbria Jack may have retired to stud after earning nearly $804,000 through winning 27 of 39 races, but the Nowra trainer was still able to return to Wentworth Park with a bang on Saturday night.
Cumbria Jack's litter sister Cumbria Chrissy overcame a slow start to notch her 13th win from 37 starts in 29.90 before Eriza Sparkles, Fitch's group one Dapto Megastar winner, also missed the kick before winning in 29.59.
Last October Eriza Sparkles became the fastest bitch to race at WP when she clocked 29.17 but prior to Saturday night's meeting Fitch said: "She is not yet ready to repeat those sort of figures but she is on song to run 29.50.''
Fitch was close to the mark with Eriza Sparkles coming from second on the back straight before taking the lead before the home turn and winning in 29.59.
Eriza Sparkles secured a dream rails run in the early stages as did Cumbria Chrissy who had bungled the start from box five but railed to the lead at the half-way mark.
Eriza Sparkles' time was better only by Dennis Keeping, who gave trainer Jason Magri a winning double after running down pacemaker Magic Bandit to win in 29.42.
David Smith has been enjoying a stellar year and the Elderslie (Camden) trainer landed the quinella in the opening race, with Radiant Ethics comfortably defeating kennelmate Swift Wind in 29.86.
After the event Smith said: "Although that was only Radiant Ethics' third win in 23 starts, she has been unlucky in several races and her record should have read better.
"Just the same, she cannot run much quicker than the 29.86 she clocked tonight.
"Her kennelmate Swift Wind who chased her home, probably has more ability but he is a bad box dog, he rarely begins cleanly.''
Ascend Fern, who cost rookie trainer Robert Way a mere $4000, scored his 17th win for the Blue Mountains trainer when he posted a slick 29.66 on Saturday night.
Ascend Fern was Way's first WP winner when he won at headquarters in April with the owner-trainer buying the dog for the bargain basement price after the dog had scored just one win from seven starts in Victoria.
Riverina trainer Ike McCorkindale, who won at WP on Thursday night with Whiskey Grace, owned by a syndicate of leading jockeys, landed Saturday's Masters race with his brilliant front runner Unleash In Miami
Unleash In Miami set up a big early lead and hung on to score by three quarters of a length in 29.80 from Zipping Hopkins, with Sammy Ethan, having his 100th race, one-and-a-half lengths away third.
