Until Friday night, Sparta Master’s greatest claim to fame might have been beating Ice On Fire in the RPGTV Puppy Final at Nottingham – though on closer scrutiny the formline would show Master in fifth and Ice On Fire last in the race won by Trickys Dumbo. Or an excellent run in the semi finals of the Summer Stayers Classic at Monmore.

But no more. Sharon Thompson’s dog will now be remembered as the dog who broke the Romford 575 metre track record on his first look at the Essex track.

In clocking the night’s joint fastest sectional, the 4-1 chance blew away the opposition to stop the clock in 34.59, some three spots quicker than Quantum Leap’s previous best, recorded on the reversed course.

An August ’17 son of Aero Majestic and Sparta Fantasy, Sparta Master left Ireland with 32.70 form for Shelbourne’s 575 and joined Gary Ferguson at Shawfield. He won A1 at Shawfield and the 500m open supporting the Scottish Derby Final.

After his Monmore exploits – he missed his break in the final and was beaten by Sheldan – Master was snapped up by Henlow’s Sharon Thompson. He is her only runner, though the long established Henlow trainer also keeps four retired greyhounds.

She said: “I made up my mind that I wanted a decent open racer and I enquired about Master, who was quite expensive at £20,000. But we managed to negotiate a lower figure and it has all gone from there.”

The one-time permit trainer who refuses to use a walking machine and exercises her dogs ‘the old fashioned way’ has seen a change in Master’s behaviour in recent weeks after being knocked over twice in open races at Central Park.

She said: “He was always a bit immature and would just cut across the field at the bend. They were two quite bad bumps and it has made him a bit more careful. Also, getting on the hare at Crayford and finding his way around the bends seems to have helped his confidence.”

So was his trainer confident going to Romford and what does she think of the semi final draw?

“For the heats I was really just hoping he would qualify. To run as well as that came as a shock. I am quite happy with the draw. He was originally seeded wide but has been running as a middle for his last few runs. He should be fine from five.”