Maitland Greyhound Club’s Showtime Cup heats over 450 metres unearthed two exciting youngsters in Full Of Wind and Tollbar.
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Full Of Wind was first across the line in the fourth heat in a slick 25.22s seconds for Heddon Greta owner/trainer Daniel Flanagan and the fast-finishing Charlie Lamb-trained Tollbar was only a neck away second.
Maitland Greyhound Club sponsorship and promotions manager Fred Robertson said it was a great match-up between the pair and he expected them to fight out the finish once again in this Thursday’s final.
A son of Fabregas and Sheza Surfy, Full Of Wind has won three of his four starts – from boxes four and five – and his only blemish was a fifth from box eight on January 22 when he was slowly away and ran wide on the home turn.
Tollbar, a son of Cosmic Chief and Lisa’s Tree, has three seconds and a win from his four race starts and needs only a bit of luck in the final to salute for his Swan Bay trainer.
Full Of Wind was the second son of Fabregas to win in smart time at Maitland this year, with No Donuts carving out a sizzling 24.97s run a week earlier.
Fabregas was a National Sprint champion before he turned two and he appears to have passed on his speed genes to his young progeny.
While most attention was on the young up-and-comers, Sawyers Gully trainer Terry Priest slipped under the radar with the well-tried Wild Judy in the third heat.
The daughter of Knocka Norris and Takeover Teddy posted a best-of-day 24.99s to beat the Peter Seaton-trained Autograph Rowe by six-and-a- quarter lengths with the Peter Neilson-trained Fab Surfy third.
Wild Judy, a May 2011 whelp nearing four years old, pinged the lids from box four and led throughout to bring up her fourth win from 38 starts.
The brindle bitch has run some slick winning times at Maitland and The Gardens – with wins from boxes two, four, six and eight – but has never franked that form with a win at her next start.
Doyalson North trainer Mark Moroney has a runner in the Showtime Cup final after Tick Away Fire won the first heat in 25.44s.
The son of Prince Diablo and Cathella Ice was third away before taking control going into the turn. He beat the John Lipinski-trained Black Diablo by three-and-three-quarter lengths with the Gary Ernst-trained Black Ace third.
The Robbie Neville-trained Jungle Rum produced a powerful finish to win the second heat of the Showtime Cup in 25.49s.
The son of Lochinvar Marlow and Rum Blaster made good use of only his second box one in 21 starts to stay out of trouble and run down the Walter Simmons-trained Gauge This to win by a neck.
The Maureen Bashford-trained Little Chaddy was third.
Richmond Vale master trainer Jason Mackay is making a habit of scoring winning doubles at Maitland.
Mackay started the day well when Zipping Tyrone won his maiden in the first race over 450m on Thursday.
It followed two seconds over 400m at Maitland.
The son of Fabregas had improved in each of his runs and clocked 25.40s to beat the Majella Ferguson-trained Disclosure with the Harry Sarkis-trained Thank You third.
Mackay enjoyed his second win two races later when Zipping Sonny, won the Brodie Wells Electrical Stakes over 565 in 31.84s.
The son of Mandagery Man and Pink Bandanna brought up his fourth win in eight starts to beat the Minnie Finn-trained Anything Less. Mackay’s other runner in the race, Zipping Geoff, was third.