The four heats of the time-honoured Maitland Supporters Club Gold Collar are packed with some of the state's best 400-metre sprinters for what promises to be a great afternoon of racing at the showground track on Thursday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Among the 32 starters are top-class and up-and-coming performers with big series wins to the their credit, including the Maitland Future Stars maiden, the group 2 Maitland Gold Cup, the Coonamble Maiden series and the Richmond Cannonball.
Maitland Greyhound Club sponsorship and promotions manager Fred Robertson rated the meeting one of the best in recent years with a good chance that Winsome Jacko's 21.98 second track record - set on October 23, 2014 - could fall.
The first heat sees the Adam Wade-trained Taipan Tracey chasing more riches after winning the $5000 Richmond Cannonball series in February.
Robertson rates Taipan Tracey (box eight) the one to beat with the strongest opposition to come from Frank Cini's All A Miss (box three), Berry Evans' Awesome Signs (box six) and Frank Hancock's Battistuzzi Miss (box seven).
Robertson reckons the second heat is likely to be match race between Dave Richardson's Sketchy Chief from box one and Maitland track specialist Atrax Robustus from box three. The Peter Akers-trained Leggy Blonde from box four is a Wauchope Cup winner and a win would not surprise.
Heat three brings together 2014 Maitland Future Stars winner Master Gee from box one for trainer Christine Proctor and 2015 Coonamble Maiden winner Tanga Tokaam from box five for Abermain trainer Hellen Pullman.
Robertson said the Susan Smith-trained Coolabah Moola from box two and the Mark Moroney-trained Fire Elusive from box six are also flying at the moment while Ron Bell's Domino Petacchi from box three could be a surprise packet.
The fourth heat sees 2015 Maitland Gold Cup winner Spacecraft return from a spell for trainer Lorraine Atchison.
Spacecraft is well drawn in box two but will need to be at his best to hold out the Gordon Jamieson-trained So Nice from box three, Bob's Uncle in box four and Rich Tom from box eight.
Robertson's best bet is the Frank Hancock-trrained Mahailia from box four in race eight.
Racing starts at 3.25pm.
