Such a race would normally be worth just over $1500 to the winner but with the Ladbrokes jackpot series in play that total rises by another $3800 this month.

Ladbrokes kicks in $200 each time a dog wins from the one box wearing the red Ladbrokes rug at Maitland and there have been 19 winners since last month’s jackpot.

This is a great promotion as each month a different grade and distance is selected to give all trainers a chance to share in the jackpot.

Those lining up on Thursday are Nancy Macintosh, Ian Betts, Jamie Saunders, Carole Eaton, Wendy Ison, Jeff Mooney and Allan Burman.

The first of the three heats went to the Nancy Macintosh-Trained Sheza Zipper from box one in 25.66 seconds.

She began only moderately but made good use of the one box to hold the rail and power away in the home straight to beat the Ian Betts-trained Gypsy Flash (25.88s) by three lengths.

The Jamie Saunders-trained Bula Big Al won the second heat in 25.64s by a length from the Carole Eaton-trained Savannah Joan (25.71s) with the Wendy Ison-trained Welsh Karma (25.84s) third.

The Jeff Mooney-trained Rebel Yell looks the likely favourite for the final after winning the third heat in a slick 25.34s from box three.

Rebel Yell carved out a strong mid section to beat the Allan Buman-trained Far A Part (25.46s) by one and three quarter lengths with the Nancy Macintosh-trained Aussie Duck (25.60s) third.

The final of the Morpeth Heritage Cup 450m sprint series at Maitland this Thursday looks like being a beauty with little separating the eight runners.

The first heat went to the Kristy Sultana-trained Elvis Honduran in 25.32s from the Garry Kedwell-trained Marloch (25.45s). The son of Swift Fancy and Avondale Miss is unbeaten in his two race starts at Maitland.

The second heat was a beauty with a head and a neck separating the first three placegetters.

The Simon Ma-trained Laurie’s Jackie was first home in 25.35s with the Ian Rose-trained Postecoglou (25.36s) a head away second with the Kristy Sultana-trained Tranquil Rue (25.37s) a neck away third.

The Mark Wilcox-trained Sweetwater Boy was the fastest of the heat winners, clocking 25.20s to beat the Ray Morris-trained Duck’s Luck (25.29s) by one and a quarter lengths. Cosmic Feature (25.32s) was third.

The Wayne Boreland-trained Ochre Keroma ran down the early leader Nitro Monkey to win the Kurri Rural & Pet Produce Supplies final over 565m at Maitland last Thursday.

The daughter of Spring Gun and Maya Keroma has hit a purple patch of form with four consecutive middle distance wins - two at Richmond over 535m and two at Maitland over 565m.

Trainers are reminded that the heats of Maitland Greyhound Club’s time-honoured Future Stars maiden series over 400m are on Thursday, October 20.