Sydney trainer Dean Swain’s impressive strike rate at Maitland looks set to continue when Watch The Wasp contests the $4200-to-the-winner Maitland Monthly Medal final over 565 metres on Thursday afternoon.
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The son of Wentworth Park track record holder Shakey Jakey and Midnight News was the fastest of two heats winners and needs only luck in running this Thursday to bring up his fourth win in seven starts.
Watch The Wasp was the $1.30 red-hot favourite with punters at the track and led all the way from box one in a slick 31.89 seconds to beat the James York-trained Sheza Marvel (32.57s) by nine and three quarter lengths.
Diddy Adora (32.66s) finished third for Colin Kneeshaw and Uschi (32.76s) was fourth for Jamie Hawkins to earn a spot in the final.
Farley trainer Phillip Carroll also earns a shot at the Monthly Medal after Show Much Fun saluted in the second heat.
The daughter of Turanza Bale and Ritza Flare was only moderately away from box six but grabbed the lead in the back straight and took control on the home turn to clock 32.54s and beat the Jeff Eaton-trained You Go Boss (32.82s) by four lengths.
Dianna Bale (32.84s) finished third for Chad Garrard and Upton Park Girl (32.89s) was fourth for Carole Eaton.
Good luck to all runners in this Thursday’s final and a big thank you to Ladbrokes for adding $2600 to the prizemoney pot.
Ladbrokes puts up $200 every time a dog wins wearing the red rug at Maitland and each month one race is selected to gain the jackpot pool.
Menken’s travels rewarded
The round trip from Bundamba in Queensland to Maitland and back two weeks in a row proved worthwhile for trainer Michael Menken.
In fact, the drive home each time would have been made easier after Sisso’s Joy won her heat and then the final of the Classic Bet Winter Cup Final over 450m on Thursday afternoon.
Sisso’s Joy, a daughter of Shakey Jakey and Bakaara, was ultra impressive in winning her heat the previous week with an all-the-way effort in 25.45s, but started a $9.30 chance in the final after red-hot favourite Lagoon Rhett carved out a sensational 24.80s run to be the fastest of five heats winners.
Sisso’s Joy (25.32s) pinged the lids from box one in the final and held off a late challenge from Lagoon Rhett, which was slowly away from box four and had to work through the field before going down by only three quarters of a length.
It also brought up a hat-trick of wins for Sisso’s Joy and took her tally to five wins and four placings from 11 race starts.
Brilliant win for Rangoon
Maitland specialist Rangoon showed that she is always a danger with a brilliant all-the-way win from box seven in the Trojan Chemicals Stakes over 450m at Maitland on Thursday.
The daughter of Humdrum and Celestial Gift hadn’t won since February but had been a model of consistency with a string of minor placings at Maitland, Wentworth Park and Muswellbrook.
Thursday’s victory in 25.29s took her tally to 15 wins and 19 placings from 47 starts.
Telarah Remember When series
Maitland is gearing up for its annual Telarah Remember When race series for fifth grade greyhounds over 400m in July.
This series is run to honour the many Telarah owners and trainers who have contributed to the sport over the years and starts with heats on July 6 and culminates with a final and VIP night for sponsors on July 13.
O’Neill’s Tyres, Sopers Smash Repairs and Kirkwood Produce have already come on board to support the time-honoured event and it is hoped other Telarah business will join them for what promises to be a great two weeks of racing.