Poco Dorado and Veloce Nero have retired and Blue Moon Rising is in the twilight of his career but Dylan's Magic looks set to fill the void for master trainer of stayer John Finn.
Having his first start over 720m, and going into the race off a sprint preparation, Dylan's Magic came out running from box seven and led throughout to win at Wentworth Park on Saturday in 42.18s, outstanding time for a rookie stayer.
Despite being boxed "on the wrong side of the track'' Dylan's Magic carved out a scorching first split of 16.10 to beat his kennelmate Really Unreal by just on five lengths.
"It is good for him that the group one Association Cup has been postponed until June because Dylan's Magic will have toughened up as a stayer by then,'' trainer John Finn said.
Finn's wife Melinda, who owns Dylan's Magic, said: "We've always thought he would stay because after his 520m and 600m races he has never been puffing, although after tonight's race I noticed his rib cage was trembling a little so he must have put in hard over the 720m.''
Cosmic Bonus (pictured), who turned five last December, notched his 65th win from 135 starts when he led throughout in Saturday's Masters 520m race at Wentworth Park, stopping the clock at a slick 30.13sec.
The old marvel lifted his earnings for trainer Evelyn Harris to nearly $388,000 with his 11th Wentworth Park success, making the long trip back to Whiteman Creek, near Grafton, much easier for his connections.
"We will get home at five o'clock Sunday morning, and then it will be time to feed all our dogs,'' Harris said.
Muzza Keeping will be set for the group 3 Nowra Puppy Classic following his first Wentworth Park success on Saturday night in a 520m fifth grade, where he recorded a tidy 30.13s.
Trainer Mick Hardman said later: "He hurt his calf muscle when he raced for me at Wentworth Park on December 17 but since resuming this month he has been going great.
"I was tossing up whether to nominate him for the group 3 New Sensation at Wenty or the Nowra race but I think the latter event might be a bit easier to win and they are each worth $25,000 to the final winner.
"Heats of the Nowra Classic are on April 12 so I plan to head down to Nowra next week to give Muzza Keeping a trial on the track.''
Only winner to break 30sec for the 520m trip on Saturday was Princess Zesta, who ran down Federal Morgan to win by a head in 29.95s, her personal best Wentworth Park figures.
Princess Zesta's previous four Wentworth Park runs had been over 720m and resulted in two placings, but she had won over 520m in 30.03s and on Saturday proved her stint as a stayer had not taken the edge off her early speed.
"She is probably capable of clocking around 42.50s over the 720m trip and could win a long-distance race at Wenty, but in each of her staying races she has run into a dog running very quick time,'' trainer Leanne Grimwood said.
"Princess Zesta was well drawn near the rails in box two tonight and only needed to get a clear go early to be hard to hold off and that's how it worked out.''
Being able to hold the lead on the back straight made all the difference for Dissociative, who led throughout on Saturday in 30.03s in a 520m fifth grade.
After the race trainer Kayla-Jane Coleman said: "I wasn't surprised when Dissociative jumped in front because he has been beginning well lately.
"But when he is running second or third on the back straight he tends to get wide and loses his position.
"He got wide again tonight but this time he was in front and then they jammed up behind him so he was able to hang on to the lead.''
