Maitland Greyhound Club will host a family fun afternoon at the showground this Thursday with free activities for the children and a visit from Santa.
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Children’s entertainers Party Chameleon will provide free face painting and show the children how to make balloon animals.
Santa will arrive on a fire truck after the running of race eight, the Maitland Christmas Cup, to hand out 100 show bags and pose for photographs with the young and young a heart.
Entry to the showground will be via the Evans Street gate, which runs off Louth Park Road, and the action kicks off at 3pm and runs through to 7pm.
Oxley Rebel fastest in heats
A drop in grade was just the ticket for the Darren Sultan-trained Oxley Rebel, the fastest of three Maitland Christmas Cup 450m heat winners last Thursday.
The son of Barcia Bale and Keira’s Charm had finished midfield in his four previous starts in higher grade for Sultana following a seven-month break after racing in Western Australia.
Oxley Rebel began well from box six and sat three wide around the bend before exploding in the home straight to clock a best-of-day 25.05s and beat the Barry Riccio-trained Caishen (25.70s) by nine and a quarter lengths.
Come On George won the second heat in 25.21s for Jamie Bush, beating home Wayne Atwill’s Long Eagle (25.43s) by three lengths with Melanie Mabbott’s Tralee Jaz (25.49s) third.
Underpass won the first heat for Wayne Atwill in 25.47s, beating Les Hudson’s Beeomo’s Opal (25.48s) by a head. Kiarni Mask (25.60s) was third for Thomas Roche.
Good luck in the final this Thursday.
Tunza Thunder in red-hot form
Branxton trainer Susan Smith is enjoying a purple patch of form with her young kennel star Tunza Thunder.
The daughter of Magic Sprite and Blue Thunda has won six of her seven race starts and the only blemish was a narrow second in the Silver Maiden Final at the annual Coonamble carnival in October.
Since then Tunza Thunder has won twice at The Gardens over 400 metres and strung together three impressive wins at Gosford over 388m.
Tunza Thunder’s latest win at Gosford last Tuesday night saw her lead all the way from box seven as the $1.60 red hot favourite.
Congratulations Susan on a great training effort, which also included a double at Gosford with Morse saluting in the Mingwong Dinner Party Stakes over 388m in a best-of-night 22.09s.
Christmas bonus for sprint
Newcastle GBOTA Branch members will be trackside at Maitland this Thursday to present a trophy to the winner or the 400m Christmas Sprint.
The Newcastle branch boosted prizemoney for the event by $700, with the winner to take home $1600.
Good luck to the finalists of the Christmas Sprint: (not in box order) Swizzle Sticka (Michael Manuel), Windsor Vella (Darren Sultana), Supreme Style (Stephen Davies), Shak (Matthew Hannay), Prince Sunrise (Bradley Field), Stylish Chic (Stephen Davies), Glengarrie Lady (Darren Sultana) and Country Grenade (Stephen Casey).
