Mahailia will aim for a maiden group victory when she lines up in the Group 2 PPK Mining Maitland Gold Cup (450m) heats on Thursday afternoon.
The exciting NSW Northern Rivers-based greyhound jumps from box two in the second of the seven high-quality heats aiming to score a fifth consecutive victory.
Mahailia has already enjoyed three wins from three starts at Maitland and has won both her previous starts wearing the checks.
She also counts a win over the 520m at Wentworth Park to her name and owner Edie Hancock believes her greyhound can continue her strong form again.
“I’m not that surprised she’s taken to Maitland so well because she’s a quality greyhound,” she said.
“She’s such a good all-round greyhound. She jumps to the front and says ‘Goodnight Charlie’ to the rest.
“I think she likes the eight on our local tracks but I’m happy with box two. She won’t have to work so hard to get to the front, which will help against these quality greyhounds.
“She has run the 520 metres at Wentworth Park so the distance shouldn’t be a problem.
“This is a tough race but you have to be optimistic with how she’s going.”
Mahailia’s recent hot run of form has extended her record to an impressive 13 wins and one minor placing from 18 starts.
The tough opposition in her heat on Thursday includes Jack Walker (box three), who is trained by Golden Easter Egg winning trainer Jason Thompson and is a winner of six of his 13 starts.
Disturbance (box five) has a tricky draw but won at Maitland last week in a scorching 24.97 and also looks a threat.
Mahailia is the latest star pup for Hancock and her trainer-husband Frank, who have bred, reared and trained scores of talented greyhounds over the years at their picturesque Spring Grove base.
“It’s all in the breeding but we don’t try to do things too quickly with our pups either,” Edie Hancock said. “It’s always something we’ve done.
“We would rather have them absolutely right than risk racing them not 100 per cent.
“With Mahailia we have tried to progress her gently and then step up to these tougher races.
“It seems to be working – we just hope it continues.”
Some of the best NSW greyhounds, together with some high-quality interstate performers, feature in the seven heats.
Ones to watch include Spiders Brother (box one, heat one), Ritza Lenny (box one, heat three) and Marbo’s Magic (box five, heat four).
Other eye-catching contenders include Tullabung Rock (box five, heat five), Magic Spring (box three, heat six) and Your Shout Punk (box one, heat seven).
Dangerous local Black Frenzy and last Saturday night's Group 3 New Sensation winner Tilly's Boy are also in contention.
The seven winners and the fastest runner-up progress to next Friday’s final, part of a high-class night’s racing at Maitland.
For Maitland Thursday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
