Jason MACKAY could not be happier with his chances ahead of Friday night's Group 2 PPK Group Limited Maitland Cup (450m) decider.
“If I had done the draw myself they would be the boxes I would have chosen for ZIPPING Saxon and Black Frenzy,’’ the Richmond Vale trainer said.
ZIPPING Saxon, described by MACKAY as “a box one bandit’’ will carry the red rug while Black Frenzy is ideally positioned on the extreme outside of the field.
“I would back ZIPPING Saxon, mainly because he is more experienced," MACKAY said. “Black Frenzy has had only six starts and ZIPPING Saxon’s run home time in his heat win was sensational.
“But Black Frenzy has a great draw. The wider out he is the better he likes it.’’
MACKAY rates the Lorraine Atchison-trained Spacecraft (pictured, blue rug) as the dog to beat.
He has been a NSW standout in recent months and trainer Lorraine Atchison likes her charge's chances.
“He is fitter this week than he has ever been," she said. "I could not have him any better.
“I am happy enough with box seven because if I had been allowed to pick my own draw I would have gone for box eight.
“Early in his career I always thought Spacecraft wanted to be drawn outside but he handles any box now.
“In last week’s heat he lost a lot of ground when he speared off the track on the home turn. I put that down to the fact he had been racing constantly at Wentworth Park and had not been around Maitland for quite some time.
“Hopefully this week Spacecraft will handle the corner better.’’
If there is an upset in the Cup the dog most likely to spring a surprise is brilliant front runner Camacho">Camacho, who has won 11 of 18 starts for trainer Ron Bell.
Camacho won his heat in 25.31 and while ZIPPING Saxon recorded 24.91 and Spacecraft 25.01, it is worth noting that Bell’s greyhound has clocked 25.12 at Maitland.
“He is still only a baby but I always recall Peter Sterling talking about footballers and saying if they are good enough, they are old enough,’’ Bell said.
“I am really happy with Camacho’s draw because he tends to take two or three steps and then go very fast.
“I’m told Jack Kade, who has box three, is not a tight railer and if that is the case it will suit Camacho because he tends to jump and then run up the track slightly.’’
Bell also has Camacho’s litter sister Paloma Lago, who clocked a blistering 29.66 at her 515m debut at The Gardens last Saturday, in box eight in the PPK’s Firefly Mining Equipment Stakes.
“I threw her in at the deep end at The Gardens but she exceeded our expectations and she could not be drawn better than she is at Maitland,’’ the trainer said.
“Paloma Lago has not been around Maitland but neither had Camacho when he first raced there and he had no trouble handling the track first up.
“Early in their careers Paloma Lago was a bit quicker than Camacho but she suffered a stopper bone injury so has had only nine starts.’’
For Maitland Friday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Group 2 Maitland Cup Final Box Draw (Sportsbet Fixed Odds in brackets): 1. ZIPPING Saxon ($2.30) 2. Camacho ($10) 3. Jack Kade ($15) 4. Altered Mist ($34) 5. Silver Label ($15) 6. La Grand Logie ($12) 7. Spacecraft ($3) 8. Black Frenzy ($4.80). 1r; Winsome Jacko, 2R: Queen Charlie.
Prices correct at time of writing.
