What we saw in Saturday night’s Topgun is as good as greyhound racing gets.

It was the pinnacle of what our sport has to offer on the track.

Behind the boxes, I’m usually trying to declare the winner in my mind as early as I can. I’m already thinking about what to say on TV straight after Dan reads out the time, with the aim of getting the most out of the handler.

But on very rare occasions, a race of stars sets up in a way that makes me abandon that thought process. I just watch greatness unfold and respond to it. Saturday’s Topgun was one of those.

I love star dogs standing up after being under fire in the court of public opinion. In this case, the questions were about Off The Chart’s consistency and Wrongly Accused’s two recent unplaced runs as the dominant favourite.

There was pressure, especially on Wrongly Accused. Whether it’s right or wrong, fair or unfair, that’s what happens with superstar sportspeople and animals. They raise the bar of expectation to heights impossible to reach every week.

When Off The Chart let rip early, I thought ‘here we go’. He went 17.43 (1L off Fernando Bale’s record) to the back split with Canya Talk Now and Wrongly Accused not too far away. I started giggling, thinking ‘how ******* good is this’.

Then we saw Wrongly Accused jag around Off The Chart like Chris Judd out of a pack, still carrying momentum and delivering.

And then the overall time went up on the board. It was obscene given the circumstances.

I understand there are more spectacular come-from-behind performances and occasionally faster times, but all things considered, this race will go down as one from the top shelf.

In my opinion, it simply doesn’t get any better.

All forms of racing can get repetitive and feel very much like a routine, but it’s moments like that Topgun that ignite the fire and remind me why I love this caper.

What a way to kickstart Dream Chasers. Now we build towards Sportsbet Melbourne Cup heats Saturday week. Before we get there, it’ll be a ripping meeting at Sandown Park this Friday night with the Laurels final, last round of Cup Preludes plus the four-dog Shootout which will feature Wrongly Accused. Fields are out tomorrow.