Londonderry trainer Frank Hurst has another feature race in his sights for exciting youngster Good Odds Harada after he won the Ladbrokes Maitland Future Stars Final by the narrowest of margins - a nose.
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The son of Collision and Solar Pak clocked a slick 22.25 seconds from box six in last Thursday’s 400 metre final to beat the fast-finishing Jodie Lord-trained Embossed and take home the $7000 first prize.
The Alan Proctor-trained Chevy Thor, which he races for Butterwick owners Michael and Jodie Manuel, finished a further four and a quarter lengths away third.
The son of Collision and Solar Pak clocked a slick 22.25 seconds from box six
With two wins from two starts Hurst is now considering returning to Maitland with Good Odds Harada for a crack at the $2500-to-the-winner Maitland Supporters Club Juvenile over 450m in two weeks.
The juvenile event is for greyhounds whelped on or after November 1, 2016 and is designed to provide a stepping stone in distance for young greyhounds after they have come through the Future Stars series.
Last year’s Future Stars winner Sky Wave followed this path to also win the juvenile event and then go on to become one of the best and most consistent greyhounds in the state before finishing third in the world’s richest greyhound race, the Million Dollar Chase, at Wentworth Park last Saturday night.
Gunning trainer Jodie Lord, who had four runners in the Future Stars final, saw her charges finish second, fourth, fifth and sixth.
THREE FOR VEE
Punters who stuck with the ever consistent Ron Bell-trained Miss Vee were rewarded with $4.60 when she made it three in a row at Maitland last Thursday afternoon.
The daughter of Keybow and Zipping Yoko also made it five wins from her past six starts and took her prizemoney tally to $37,360 from 15 wins and 12 minor placing in 41 starts.
The black bitch has her sire’s trademark early speed and led all the way from box seven in the Ladbrokes Monthly Medal Stakes over 400m.
She clocked a slick 22.25s to beat the Jodie Lord-trained Styles by two and three quarter lengths with Brian Mitchell’s Riden’s Reach third.
EARLY SPEED
Lojay Jones made it two in a row when he won the Ladbrokes Back Yourself Final for Sawyers Gully trainer Darryl Thomas at Maitland last Thursday.
The son of Fabregas and Lektra Rice spent some time in Victoria with leading trainer Anthony Azzopardi before joining Thomas’ kennels and it looks like more wins are in store after he clocked a slick 22.29s for the 400m.
Lojay Jones started a $1.90 favourite and his good early speed certainly makes him one to watch in the future.
THURSDAY RACING
Racing at Maitland this Thursday afternoon features heats of the East Maitland Business House Challenge over 450m with the final to be run on November 8.
