Precious Sal Being Primed For Maitland Gold Cup

By Jeff Collerson

Precious Sal, who set a new 400m Maitland record of 21.87 on January 25, is unlikely to race again before contesting the heats of the Group 2 Gold Cup there on April 5.

Precious Sal finished fifth to Ritza Lenny in the 472m Bulli Gold Cup on February 24 but has since scored brilliant wins over 431m at Ipswich in fast times.

"She was very flat when I got her home after the Bulli race but recovered well to win the double at Ipswich,'' her Queensland-based trainer Darren Russell said.

"But her mission is the Maitland Gold Cup and I'm inclined to keep her fresh for the heats of that race.''

Although Precious Sal set the Maitland record over 400m, the additional 50m of the Gold Cup hold no fears for her as she won over the 450m trip there in a blistering 24.86 on February 8.

Russell could also be represented in the Cup heats by 37kg giant Burrum Starsky, who has won five of 21 races.

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Sydney breeder Peter Spiteri, who won 74 races and earned $349,000 prizemoney with litter brothers Let It Develop, Jack Kade and Pierro Kade, has promising close relations of that trio ready to race.

My Bro Kade, a son of My Bro Fabio and Amyjo, won a 440m performance trial for trainer Jodie Lord at Canberra last Sunday in a tidy 25.23, defeating litter brother and kennelmate Double Tax.

The youngsters' dam Amyjo won seven races for Spiteri and is a litter sister to his three prolific winners, being a daughter of Collision and his brood bitch Neat Irish.

"This litter is Amyjo's first and all seven of her pups are showing promise,'' Spiteri said.

"Jodie Lord is very excited about the future for My Bro Kade and Double Tax, because they only turned 18 months old on Sunday.

"Double Tax is possibly a bit quicker than My Bro Kade, while Peter and Jodie Lagogiane is training their litter sister Amy Laura for me.

"She has not had a performance trial yet because she has had tonsillitis but at her first Richmond 400m hit-out she clocked 22.90, a smart run for a puppy.

"Robert Blakely, who did such a great job winning 16 races with Jody Lee Kade for me, is also training some of the Amyjo litter.

"Jody Lee Kade has just been retired and will be mated with my old dog, Let It Develop.''

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Greyhounds are one racing code where owners do not have to spend big money to enjoy success.

Just ask Northern Rivers trainer Reg Gardoll, whose dog Baron Von Strud made the pace when second to Freddy's Back in Monday night's Grafton feature event, the Ladbrokes Red Dog Final.

Baron Von Strud, who went into the event with six wins from nine starts, and War At Midnight, who has won 14 of 26 races for Gardoll, were "giveaways.''

Gardoll, who trained Wentworth Park's 2005 Group 1 Vic Peters Classic Watch The Web, said: "Incredibly War At Midnight and Baron Von Strud, who cost their owners nothing, are the two fastest greyhounds in my kennels.''