With remedial work continuing at Wentworth Park, it’s the turn of Maitland to take centre stage tonight to host the main NSW, midweek meeting.
As announced yesterday, GRNSW and NSW GBOTA advises that racing will return to WP on Saturday 15th September. Track remediation works are in the final stages of being finalised with completion set for early the week commencing 10th September. This will allow participants the opportunity to trial their greyhound’s at the venue prior to the recommencement of racing on the 15th. For details of the changes, you can find the release on thedogs.com.au website.
But back to racing and finding a winner, and the best of the night on the 10-race card at Maitland appears in race three, the Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes over the 565m, in the shape of Lochinvar Hugo (box 4).
In his two starts from a short let-up, Lochinvar Hugo was a good second at Bulli behind the talented Big Butters, and then last start was third – beaten less than a length – behind Zipping Manuela at Richmond in 35.85s,
The son of Barcia Bale and Lochinvar Vogue has an outstanding strike rate with 27 wins and 11 placings from just 43 starts. At Maitland, the record stands at four starts for four wins, and the small field in tonight’s race adds to the confidence around Lochinvar Hugo making it five from five.
Another good hope on the night comes in race eight, the Ladbrokes Multimaker Stakes over 450m.
One Hour Parking had no luck early last start when sixth behind My Gal Penny in a heat of the Black Top last Friday. The run before that, he flew out and gave nothing else a chance when a winner here in 29.54s (best on the night). He has run 24.93s over this trip and will be hard to catch.
For those looking to start the night on the right foot, debutant Keydra is the pick in race one the Commercial Painting Group Maiden over 400m.
Keydra has looked good in three trials at Maitland, clocking 22.52s in the most recent one last week. Looks the leader and will be hard to run down on that effort.
Today’s other NSW meeting is at Richmond with a twilight 10-race meeting.
And we find our best bet early on the card in the shape of Cee Jay’s Boy in race two, the Steeline Riverstone Maiden over 400m.
Cee Jay’s Boy will be making his debut here but looked strong in a recent trial, beginning moderately but showing plenty of pace to win over 330m in 18.71s. From the three box he looks set to start his racing career with a win.
There are a number of open events on the program today, and race five, the Sires On Ice Stakes over 535m is one of them.
The pink, All Negoa is well drawn out wide and although she failed here last start from box three, she can make amends from this trap.
Race three, the Kevin Waters Towing Maiden over 400m, looks a match race between the first starter Got An ENGINE in box five and the Zipping Shika which has drawn the rails.
Got An ENGINE ran a handy trial at Bulli on August 4 while the ever consistent Zipping Shika has been placed in six of her eight starts.
The pair look set to battle it out with perhaps a quinella the best option.
