Black Magic Opal is regarded as one of the most talented winners of the group 2 Maitland Cup and tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon his nephew Black Jack Opal will step out in heat two.
Black Magic Opal, who was unbeaten in seven starts at Maitland, won the 2013 Cup for Budgewoi owner-trainer-breeders Carol and Les Hudson before being sold to a client of crack Melbourne trainers Seona and Jason Thompson.
Black Magic Opal went on to win the 2013 Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park for the Thompsons and retired with over $570,000 in prizemoney after taking out 35 of 48 races.
Black Jack Opal, the Hudsons' runner in this year's Cup, is by Barcia Bale from Glamorous Opal, a full sister to Black Magic Opal.
But the dog's official trainer Les Hudson is far from confident about success this year.
"Black Jack Opal is a smart dog and has won 18 of 38 races and box four won't worry him, he doesn't seem to mind middle boxes,'' Hudson said.
"But he is nowhere near the dog we thought he was going to be,'' Hudson said.
"When he was educated Carol and I thought Black Jack Opal was going to be as good as his uncle, Black Magic Opal.
"A succession of niggling injuries plus a freakish setback on a local beach changed that.
"One day we were giving Black Jack Opal his regular splash around in the shallow water on the edge of the beach when a flock of pelicans caught his eye.
"Being a dog, he took off after them, and while he naturally did not get anywhere near the birds, he disappeared completely.
"Two hours passed by before we were able to locate him and I think that incident might have affected his respiratory system long term.
"His form is smart but he has never been as good as he was before that mishap on the beach.''
xxxx
MEANWHILE last year's Maitland Gold Cup winner Aston Duke (pictured) is on song for a tilt at his second victory in the group 2 event.
Aston Duke's 24.88sec for the 450m when he defeated Richmond Derby winner Hone In last year is among the quickest on record.
Trainer Jason MACKAY said the dog is now trialling as well as ever.
"He has had a couple of little setbacks recently but has come good at the right time,'' MACKAY said.
"Aston Duke's last couple of solo trials have been as fast as he has ever gone and his second behind Riley Tokaam at Maitland last week was encouraging.
"Aston Duke was badly in need of that run and I think he will be a better dog when he tackles the third Cup heat this week.''
Although Aston Duke has had 59 starts for 20 wins, MACKAY pointed out the greyhound is just 38 months of age.
xxxx
TWO remarkable sets of siblings are among the strongest Sydney-trained contenders in tomorrow's Maitland Cup heats.
Ron Marsden's trio Hardaway Titan (heat one), Cee Jay's Boy (heat two) and Hardaway Harada (heat four) have raced 56 times for 38 wins while Frank Hurst's littermate trio of Good Odds Harada (heat one), Good Odds Buddy (heat three) and Good Odds Meghan (heat four) have won 16 of their combined 36 starts.
Marsden's dogs are by Barcia Bale from My Lady Day while Hurst's greyhounds were sired by Collision and whelped by Solar Pak.
For two sets of siblings to be contesting heats of a group 2 race while boasting a better than 50 per cent winning strike rate must surely be a record.
