George Sannette’s victory in the Ladbrokes Monthly Medal was a taste of the great racing to come in next month’s group 2 PPK Group Limited Maitland Gold Cup.
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The son of Cosmic Rumble and Bloss Sannette clocked 24.89 seconds in the grade three and four stakes race on Thursday night to go within a length and a half of Magic Spring’s 24.74s 450-metre track record.
On a day that saw racing move from a twilight meeting to an evening start as temperatures soared around the high 30s, George Sannette jumped well from box six and carved off impressive sections to claim the $3400 first prize for Wherrol Flats trainer Kevin Johnson.
George Sannette, a winner of 12 of his 40 starts and $33,340 prizemoney, beat the Dave Richardson-trained Sandave Prince by three and a half lengths with the Ron Bell-trained Camacho third.
Maitland Greyhound Racing Club sponsorship and promotions manager Fred Robertson said George Sannette managed to get to the lead early, which is not his normal caper, because there were a few slow beginners around him.
The blue dog never looked in danger once he hit the front and showed he needs only a little bit of luck to be a threat in the Maitland club’s premier event.
Robertson said Johnson told him he hoped to bring George Sannette back to Maitland for the heats of the group 2 Maitland Gold Cup on Thursday, March 31 and that could set up a cracker of a final with 450m track record holder and National Derby winner Magic Spring also a possible starter.
Leading trainer Anthony Azzopardi, a Maitland regular who recently moved from NSW to establish himself in Victoria, is also another expected to bring a strong team to Maitland for the heats.
“If the track is prepared for the Gold Cup like it was on Thursday night then I reckon Magic Spring’s 24.74s track record will go,” Robertson said.
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It was pleasing to see Jack Ya Zipper break through for his maiden win after eight starts for Keinbah trainer Natina Howard.
The son of Dyna Steel and Cumani had been knocking on the door with some solid performances without any luck in recent weeks and finally delivered as the $2.10 favourite from box three on Thursday night.
In his previous seven starts he had run smart times for two seconds and three thirds.
The black dog was third away in The Sign Place Maiden over 450m but railed well and never looked in danger as he turned for home.
He beat the Bruce Mackie-trained Kleen Sweep by two and a half lengths with the Barry West-trained Zipping Kelsey third.
