Exciting young greyhound Drink Shoeys steps out for the first time since his sensational victory in the $7000-to-the-winner Ladbrokes Maitland Future Stars Final in October.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The hugely talented youngster will start a short-priced favourite to retain his unbeaten record in the Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes over 400m metres at the Maitland Showground track on Thursday afternoon.
There's plenty of star quality on show with the Jason Mackay trained Turbo Thomas chasing his 14th win in a row in race seven the Husqvarna Stakes Free For All over 400m.
Drink Shoeys, the Michelle Sultana-trained son of SH Avatar and Silver Bullet, has had two race starts for two wins at Maitland and should have little trouble overcoming box six, the same box he exited from to win the Future Stars final in a sizzling 22.06s seconds.
Maitland Greyhounds manager Tony Edmunds said Drink Shoeys is one of the most promising young talents in the state and wouldn't be surprised to see him improve on his previous run and give Precious Sal's 400m track record of 21.87s a nudge.
"Drink Shoeys won this year's Future Stars final in a faster time than last year's winner Good Odds Harada and we all know how good he turned out to be.
"Good Odds Harada is now regarded as one of the best dogs in the country after making it through to the National Sprint finals and winning the world's richest greyhound race, the Million Dollar Chase, all within a year of kicking off his racing career at Maitland," Edmunds said.
Early markets have Drink Shoeys as the $1.40 favourite and he needs only a clear run to salute once again.
Later in the program all eyes will be on the Jason Mackay-trained Turbo Thomas as he chases his 14th consecutive win in race seven, the Husqvarna Stakes Free For All over 400m at 6.17pm.
The son of Collision and No Diggitty is a brilliant beginner and with a personal best of 21.96s - about a length off the track record - punters are likely to get little more than $1.20 if they think he can make it 14 in a row.
"The last time we saw performances like this was when Lochinvar Hugo clocked up 15 wins in a row and the great Fernando Bale, the winner of multiple group races, strung 16 together," Edmunds said.
"Jason Mackay must be feeling a little bit like horse trainer Chris Waller when the great mare Winx kept stringing together win after win, but one thing for certain is there will be many in the crowd cheering for Turbo Thomas to make it 14 in a row on Thursday.".
The first race starts at 4.07pm and the last is at 6.57pm.
