The Mt Thorley Warkworth Lodge Trophy Final at Maitland Showground on Thursday is shaping as a beauty with little separating the four 450-metre heat winners on the clock.
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Scientific Man posted the fastest time of 24.99s in the third heat for Bringelly trainer Mark Wilcox while Richmond Vale trainer Jason Mackay has two winners progressing to the final after Zipping Poppy won the first heat in 25.16s and Zipping Merlow won the second in 25.09s.
Bruno Zarr won the fourth heat in 25.05s for Buff Point trainer Ray Lacava.
Scientific Man, a son of Cosmic Rumble and Winning Shiraz, looks the dog to beat if he draws well on Monday as the one-turn specialist has 10 wins and seven placings from 18 starts and is unbeaten from boxes one and two.
The runners-up from the four heats also going through to Thursday's final are Ellie Bells (25.44s), Ohmywow (25.32s), Zipping Alvin (25.26s) and Little Terry (25.55s).
Members of the Mt Thorley Warkworth Lodge will be trackside on Thursday to present a trophy to the winner and with the school holidays in full swing they are planning a big family afternoon at the races.
Eaton celebrates
Jilliby trainer Carol Eaton is celebrating after Ruby Herrera won the Ladbrokes Monthly Medal Final over 450m at Maitland on Thursday and picked up an extra $1200 prizemoney for her troubles.
A 450m 5th grade event usually carries $1500 prizemoney for the winner but with the Ladbrokes red rug jackpot in place - $200 every time a dog wearing the Ladbrokes red rug wins at Maitland - it kicked the first prize up to $2700.
Ruby Herrera looked a beaten runner on the turn after copping a knock and dropping from first back to third but the daughter of Banjo Boy and Tifi For Me regathered her momentum in the home straight to beat the Peter Akers-trained Zipping Burgess in 25.49s.
Maitland gears up for Future Stars
Maitland is gearing up for one of its biggest feature events of the racing season, the Ladbrokes Maitland Future Stars Maiden, later this month.
The heats will be contested on Thursday, October 18 with the final on Thursday, October 25.
This race series has produced some of the state's best dogs in recent years, including 2017 winner Sky Wave who is now racing in free-for-all company has recorded 21 wins from 35 starts.
It's an opportunity for racing enthusiasts to see some of the state's best youngsters in action.
Luck off track
The Christine Proctor-trained Ganbatte hasn't had much luck on the track in recent weeks but he certainly is proving lucky off it.
For the second time in two weeks Ganbatte has been drawn as the NSW GBOTA Member Dog of the meeting at Maitland and picked up $50 for Christine and her husband Alan, who are regular visitors to Maitland.
