*Written by Gerard Guthrie, The Greyhound Recorder.

Trainer John Barbara says it was “no fluke” when his underrated sprinter Mav Reiko was an unlikely show-stopper on the clock in the opening round of the Group 1 Australian Cup series (525m) at The Meadows.

Mav Reiko, trained by Barbara at Exford and bred and raced by G1-winning jockey Jarrod Fry, clocked the fastest time in the eight Australian Cup heats held on Saturday night, while he also eclipsed Mepunga Reward’s effort in the G1 Temlee (29.80).

Coming into the series having won only three times from 25 visits to The Meadows, the son of Shima Shine and Reiko Rocketta ran a scorching 29.57, shaving almost five lengths off his previous PB of 29.91 as he claimed his 14th career win at start 56.

“It was a super run,” said John Barbara.

“It didn’t surprise me because the dog can run when he’s on the arm.

“He’s been racing well without a lot of luck.

“He’s only been out of the placings twice in his last 12 starts and once was in the Warragul Cup final where he should’ve run a place but he got into trouble. He was the second fastest heat winner in the Warragul Cup.

Mav Reiko was best of the night on Saturday night at The Meadows during week one for the Sportsbet Australian Cup Carnival.

“He keeps drawing five, six and seven. He’s only had two reds in 56 starts.

“In saying that, The Meadows isn’t his favourite track. He loves Sandown – he’s run 29.14 there – so Saturday’s run wasn’t a fluke.

“He’d been wiped out at The Meadows a couple of times and I think he lost a bit of confidence there, but once he got clear around the first turn on Saturday night he really let rip!

“He needs to be up near the lead, especially at The Meadows, because they’re always turning there and he’s a big boy (34.5 kilograms).”

Barbara will be hoping for some long overdue box draw fortune when the Australian Cup semi-final fields are released on Wednesday afternoon.

After opening at $34 in all in Australian Cup betting, Mav Reiko firmed up to $13 following his heat heroics.

Melbourne Cup winner Canya Mayhem, narrowly beaten in the G1 Temlee on Saturday night, is favourite at $7, with The Phoenix victor Deadly Avenger, fifth in the Temlee, the only other runner at single figures at $9.

The second quickest time in the Cup heats came from NSW visitor Consigliere, which continued his impressive Victorian form in his second stint with champion mentor Jason Thompson when leading all-the-way in 29.63.

It was Consigliere’s second win from three appearances at The Meadows.