Sawyers Gully trainer Darryl Thomas has welcomed the return of racing at Maitland on Thursday with the resumption of star La Grand Quality and exciting youngster Whitfield.
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Maitland last hosted racing on April 27, when the meeting was abandoned after six races because of major injuries in three consecutive events. Two dogs were euthanised. The track was investigated and improvements made after recommendations from an independent expert.
Thomas has given his voted of confidence in Maitland by racing La Grand Quality and Whitfield, which are both returning in 400-metre events after time away.
La Grand Quality's last start was in the Maitland Gold Cup (450m) on March 19 when seventh as favourite.
The 450m track record-holder injured a stopper tendon in the race and Thomas has eased his star back. He was unsure how La Grand Quality would handle his first run back, especially from an unsuitable box one.
However, he has won both starts over the 400m at Maitland and has a slick best time of 22.04 seconds.
"We haven't had him on the circle, we've just kept him on the straight so we've just got to hope he gets around well," Thomas said.
"It's been a battle to get him back. We think we've got him back.
"If he's right on the day, he'll be hard to beat, but if the injury lets go in the run, then it doesn't matter who is."
La Grand Quality runs in the fourth race, while Whitfield is in the ninth.
Whitfield, which also has a best time of 22.04 for the Maitland 400m, jumps from box four.
He won his only two starts, both at Maitland, and races for the first time since April 6.
"He can't draw a box but he's a pretty smart dog on his day," Thomas said. "But he's still learning the caper."
"He's been off because he had the virus that's been going around and I elected to turn him out because we were restricted to racing at one track and I didn't think it was ideal for the dog. Hopefully he's matured a bit and it works in our favour.
"He's very fast and an exciting dog. Probably at the same stage, he's better than La Grand Quality, but he's got to prove it yet."