Fastest heat winner Zipping Buddy looks the dog to beat in the Ron Reid Life Trophy Final at Maitland on Thursday after recording one of the fastest 400-metre times this year.
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The Jason Mackay-trained son of Barcia Bale and Zipping Willow stopped the clock at 22.14 seconds in the first of five heats and only needs to reproduce that run to take home the winner’s prize in the final.
Zipping Buddy was second away from box three and powered away on the turn to beat the Peter Neilson-trained Eye Rock (22.54s) by five and three quarter lengths.
The black dog put the writing on the wall that he would be one to watch when he won his maiden at Maitland in 22.32s back in May and all four of his wins have been on the big one-turn Maitland track.
Bugatti Blade won the second heat in 22.73s for Jacqueline Davis, beating the Paul Roderick-trained I’m So Fancy (22.74s) by a head.
Freddy’s Back (22.56s) won the third heat for Ken Staines, with Tony Mason’s Jye Nismo (22.59s) second.
Dare Eye won the fourth heat for Helen Hanson in 22.46s, beating Sonia Greene’s Songar Sunset (22.66s). Wyembah Charlie won the fifth heat for Chris Kedwell in 22.71s, with Alex Verhagen’s Zipping Abbot (22.98s) second.
Wyembah Charlie also enjoyed success off the track, winning the NSW GBOTA Member Dog draw for Kedwell and picking up $50 for his troubles.
The finalists for Thursday’s final are (not in box order) Zipping Buddy, Bugatti Blade, Freddy’s Back, Dare Eye, Wyemabah Charlie, Eye Rock, Jye Nismo, Songar Sunset, I’m So Fancy (1st res), Zipping Abbott (2nd res).
Wicked Quality going places
Londonderry trainer Sam Sultana and owner Rick Burke are on an exciting journey with in-form sprinter Wicked Quality.
The son of Awesome Project and All Quality brought up his seventh win in a row when he took out the annual City Hotels Challenge Final at Maitland last Thursday and the journey doesn’t look like ending anytime soon.
The white and black dog has now won 10 of his 21 starts and has shown a liking for the big one-turn tracks at Maitland and Bulli in the past two months where he can stride on the bend and power home in the long straight.
The victory also earned bragging rights for the team from the Bradford Hotel at Rutherford after drawing Wicked Quality in the annual hotels challenge.
This year’s final also brought together teams from the Windsor Castle, Rutherford Hotel and Grand Junction hotels and the perpetual trophy will soon be on its way to the Bradford Hotel to take pride of place for the next 12 months.
Sultana also took a quinella in the final when his other runner My Bro Conner finished second while his nephew Darren Sultana was third with Taylor’s Charm.
Drought fundraiser
Maitland Greyhound Club will team with Maitland Lions Club on Thursday, August 30 to host a fundraiser race day to help drought-hit farmers in the Hunter.
The race day is still in the planning stages and anyone wishing to sponsor a race or donate to the appeal can call Maitland Lions Club president Geoff Kilmurray on 0434 440 814.