The Ladbrokes Back Yourself Challenge rolls into Maitland this Thursday with the chance for participants to qualify for two $20,000 finals at Wentworth Park on June 16.
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The challenge involves 12 regional NSW track hosting heats for sprinters and stayers with the top point scorers progressing to the finals over 520m and 720m.
The challenge kicked off at Bulli on March 31, then progressed to Lismore, Wagga, Grafton, Temora, Nowra, Richmond and The Gardens last Friday and will move on after Maitland to Bathurst, Dubbo and Gosford.
Maitland will host non-graded heats over 450 metres and 565m and early expectations are that we will see some of the state’s best up-and-coming chasers converge on the showground for a chance to make the $20,000 final.
Branxton trainer Lindsay Davis hit the road last year with her team of chasers and was lucky enough to qualify a runner in each of the finals.
Harrington trainer Steve Burgis, who races regularly at Maitland, won a heat of the challenge with Zulu Reign over 515m at The Gardens on Friday afternoon and there’s a good chance he’ll be at Maitland on Thursday for a shot a more points.
Points are allocated at 18 for first, 16 for second, 14 for third, 12 for fourth, 10 for fifth, eight for sixth, six for seventh and four for eighth.
Autumn Cup win
Congratulations to Londonderry trainers Christine and Al Proctor on a great effort from the ever-improving Mister Fernando to win the PRD Nationwide Autumn Cup at Maitland last Thursday afternoon.
The team from PRD Nationwide Hunter Valley at East Maitland were trackside to cheer on the son of Fernando Bale and Bolero Miss as he brought up his eighth career win in only 17 starts.
Mister Fernando, the $2.20 race favourite, was poorly away from box six and was last down the back straight but by the time the field straightened for home he had set up a commanding lead and went on to clock 25.22 seconds for the 450m and beat the Nancy Mcintosh-trained Zippet Zipper by two and a half lengths. Treeman Shelby was third for Louise Mcgee.
Al Proctor, who handles the dog for his wife Christine, thanked race sponsor PRD Nationwide for their continued support of greyhound racing in Maitland.
Zipping along
Richmond Vale trainer Jason Mackay has another talented youngster in his kennels that is worth keeping an eye on.
Zipping Buddy, a son of Barca Bale and Zipping Willow, clocked a slick 22.32s to win his 400m maiden as the red-hot $1.50 favourite at Maitland on Thursday.