Last week we saw the fastest greyhound to break Maiden status Sandown Park, ever – Saquon.
And he's back in action on Thursday night for his second start – a card headlined by two Group 1 finals and Sportsbet Sandown Cup heats. He looks like a machine of the highest order and he's still a baby.
Is he a one hit wonder? Or will he go on to amazing heights? We'll wait and see.
But history largely says that they go on with it – as the Top 10 fastest Maidens ever at Sandown Park suggest.
11 – Fanta Bale (29.359)
Yes, it was meant to be a Top 10… but how could we leave her out? A debut that suggested she was going to be extremely handy. She went on to win Group 1s over all three metropolitan distances and amass over $1M in prize money. She's one of the GOATs.
10 – Manila Knight (29.358)
A greyhound that didn't go on to great heights, until his final career start. He won the 2020 Group 1 Bold Trease and was then retired. From memory, a big training performance from Mario Briganti to get him up for the final.
9 – Make No Promise (29.334)
A belting by the best part of 27 lengths. He went on to have an extremely honest career, highlighted by a runner-up effort in the 2023 Maturity behind Launch Code.
8 – Mepunga Surprise (29.330)
She went around as a $1.10 favourite and won like one. She was soon stepped up to longer distances and is still strutting her stuff – she goes around in a heat of the Sandown Cup on Thursday.
7 – Amron Boy (29.317)
Fast for most, not that quick for the standards that this boy set. He raced the following week in the Maiden final and ran 29.07, followed by 29.22 and 29.10. He won 22 of his 56 starts and is regarded as one of the fastest of his generation.
6 – Zap Devere (29.312)
This one is of more recent time. A very impressive debut that he eclipsed the following week by running 29.20. A fast dog with plenty of promise but so far hasn't maintained the heights.
5 – Full Flight (29.294)
Arguably the most intriguing of this lot. He recorded this in his second start, then went on to compete in another 18 races and only managed four placings. He was under the care of eight trainers throughout his career – he was an enigma.
5 – Mepunga Blazer (29.285)
A fast dog that didn't reach the heights he could've due to injury interruptions. He went 29.23 the following week then 29.77 at The Meadows. He won the 2017 Maturity which was the highlight of his career, along with an Albion Park track record.
5 – Zac's Entity (29.251)
His efforts in races varied but I think he's one of the fastest greyhounds we've ever seen – largely based on trial times, which to many will mean nothing. How can we forget that satisfactory trial at The Meadows against Silver Lake – that sums up Zac's Entity.
2 – Wow She's Fast (29.088)
A total gap job by 27.5 lengths. A performance that launched one of the best careers our sport has ever seen. She won 20 of her 30 starts, two Phoenix wins and $2.5M in earnings.
1 – Saquon (29.054)
The boy we hadn't heard of two weeks ago. The fastest ever to break Maiden status at Sandown Park. What's possible? Who knows, but the greyhounds listed above are some sort of indication.
