Lochinvar owner-trainer Louise Mcgee has secured two spots in the Commercial Painting Group Maiden final at Maitland on Thursday after scoring a double with Treeman Shelby and Daintree Lass.
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Treeman Shelby, a son of Jarvis Bale and Full On Shelby, was the fastest of the three 400 metre heat winners, stopping the clock at 22.93 seconds to beat the John Miles-trained Esther’s Bella (23.03s) by one and a half lengths. Robert Proctor’s Paws Of Winslow is also through to the final after finishing third in 23.67s.
Mcgee’s celebrations continued two races later when Daintree Lass, a daughter of Paddy Whacker and Daintree Sugar, overcame mid-race trouble to storm down the outside in the home straight and win the third heat by a head.
Daintree Lass clocked 23.67s to beat Dean Swain’s Starbust Stu (23.68s) with Ray Lacava’s Senor Riley (23.68s) a further head away third.
In-form Elrington trainer Chris Kedwell won the second heat with Scott A Itch in 23.28s, beating Sam Sultana’s Sexy Shardae (23.37s) by one and a half lengths with Brother Shifty (23.50s) third for Terry Priest.
The three winners and runners-up and two fastest third placegetters will contest the final at Maitland on Thursday.
This is the first of a series of maiden or 5th grade heats and finals the Maitland club will run on the first and second Thursday of each month during 2018, thanks to sponsorship from Arthur Langman’s Commercial Painting Group.
Next up will be 5th grade heats worth $1500 over 450m on February 1 and a $2000 first prize in the final a week later.
Then in March the distance dogs get their chance to shine with 0-2 wins mixed heats over 565m.
Good form continues
Elrington trainer Chris Kedwell’s run of good form in 2017 looks likely to continue in 2018 after Wyembah Charlie won the Maitland GBOTA Branch New Year’s Gift Final over 450m last Thursday afternoon.
The son of Glen Gallon and Smooth Nitro was the fastest of the heat winners going into the $1800-to-the-winner final and didn’t disappoint favourite backers who took $2.30.
The win was even more rewarding for Kedwell as his wife Sarah and father Gary were trackside to join the celebrations as he received congratulations from Maitland GBOTA Branch president Bill Bright.
The Maitland GBOTA put up an extra $500 prizemoney for the final, which saw Bryan Young’s Dynamic Goodwin finish second with Cougar Stealth third for Allan Ivers.
Wyembah Charlie backed up his impressive 24.87s heat win with a 24.96s effort, and those times put him right in the mix for the Group 2 Maitland Gold Cup in April if he can hold his form.
