New Maitland 450 metre track record holder La Grand Quality will have a final hit-out at Maitland this Thursday night before heading down to Victoria to prepare for the Ballarat Cup in two weeks time.
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Sawyers Gully trainer Darryl Thomas had originally planned to take the son of El Grand Senor and All Quality to Tasmania for the Devonport Chase and the Hobart Thousand but changed tactics because the dog is a poor traveller and would struggle with the flights required to get down and back.
La Grand Quality jumps from box four in race 10, the True Blue Electrical Stakes over 450m, and should start a short-priced favourite to take his tally to six wins from only 10 starts.
He has won twice from box five so the poor draw in the squeeze box shouldn't cause any concern for punters prepared to take the likely short odds.
Maitland Greyhounds manager Tony Edmunds said if La Grand Quality pulls up well after his Maitland run then Thomas will then prepare the dog to travel to Victoria and trial at Ballarat next Wednesday in preparation for their $47,000-to-the-winner event.
Thomas has two other runners in Thursday's race, Steelcity Boxing in box two and Ragadeen in box seven, and both are capable of winning if La Grand Quality strikes any trouble, but the surprise packet could be Sprocket Valley from the kennels of Northern Rivers trainer Dave Irwin.
Sprocket Valley is well drawn in box one to get a rails run and Irwin is an astute judge who rarely makes the trip home without prize money.
Other feature events on the night include three heats of the Ladbrokes Monthly Medal over 400m for bitches only and the Maitland Supporters Club Juvenile, which has attract ted some of the best young greyhounds in the region.
The hardest to beat will be Demander Valley in box eight for Dave Irwin, Ebby Infrared in box four for Michael Eberand and Diesel Herrerain box seven for Carol Eaton.
TIME CHANGE
With afternoon temperatures forecast to be in the mid-30s on Thursday, Maitland Greyhounds has decided to push back to a later start time.
The first of 10 races now kicks off at 6.34pm with the last race set to be run at 9.31pm.
The Evans Street gates will open from 5pm and patrons will be able to enjoy a cold drink from the bar or a steak or sausage sandwich from the barbecue.
Patrons will be able to sit trackside or they can escape the heat and enjoy the racing from the comfort of our air conditioned committee room.