An all-star cast will line up at Maitland Greyhound Club this Thursday night for the Heats of the 2020 Husqvarna Maitland Gold Cup.
Headlined by tops greyhounds such as the 2020 Group 1 Ladbrokes National Futurity winner Zipping Veyron, track record holder La Grand Quality and TAB track win record holder Turbo Thomas, this year will see arguably the best Cup Heats in recent memory.
“I think it’s going to be as good as anything I’ve seen in the last four or so years,” Maitland Greyhound Manager Tony Edmunds said.
“We were hoping to get three or more heats and I think the quality is as good as any.
“We’ve got the track record holder in La Grand Quality, the Group 1 National Futurity winner Zipping Veyron, Bill Bath who I think is one of the most promising greyhounds coming through whose now in the Peter Mattress kennels along with Turbo Thomas.
Other notable greyhounds converging on the Hunter Valley track will be Ebby Infrared (2020 Bulli Cup finalist), Smooth Act (2019 Lismore TAB Million Dollar Chase qualifier winner), Nangar Jack (2019 TAB Million Dollar Chase Consolation winner), along with Midnight Walk and Fire On ice (finalists from this year’s Ladbrokes Richmond Oaks).
When asked which greyhounds he’ll be keeping an eye on this year, Edmunds said it was an up and comer whose career began at the Maitland track who has captured his attention.
“Bill Bath for me is one to watch.
“I’ve been watching this young dog come through, he started his career at Maitland and he’s now in Peter Mattress’ kennel.
“I kept an eye on him in the Bulli Cup and he got knocked on the home corner which put him out of contention but since then he’s come out and run 24.80s at Maitland his next start, had a nice win in the wet last week and Peter Mattress has got him absolutely primed for this series.
From the remaining greyhounds, Edmunds is just pleased with the quality of greyhound assembled both local, from throughout the state and beyond.
“Turbo Thomas from Jason Mackay, you can never underestimate him.
“He’s a quality dog who’s unbeaten at Maitland in 11 starts here and he’ll be the first one to the first corner, the first one to the home corner and if they want to win it, they’ll have to run him down.
“Is there a Pindari Express among them? Well maybe La Grand Quality out of the Darryl Thomas kennels.
“He’s the track record holder and also broke the 390m track record at Warragul (in a trial) and then he went on to win the Warragul Cup.
“He’s the track record holder so between him, Bill Bath and Turbo Thomas I think we’ve got a quality field.
“We’ve got a dog that’s been running in WA, a couple of Queenslanders coming down who are in good form, some from the Northern Rivers so I think we’re in for one cracker of a Series.
Click here to read the full fields for Thursday night’s Heats.
