2015 Group 2 Maitland Cup heats: latest odds, tips & predictions
MAITLAND will hold the focus of the greyhound racing spotlight on Friday night, with eight terrific heats of the Group 2 Maitland Cup being run over the 450-metre trip.
Each winner will progress through to next week's $40,000-to-the-winner final.
Lets get into our selections for the meeting.
1st: $1,400 2nd: $410 3rd: $205.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Very open heat to kick off the night, but I think the speedy I'm Pedro can get the job done at $7 fixed odds with William Hill. He has been racing in great style at Wentworth Park recently and he is much better suited back to this trip. He should have enough early burn to get across and he is hard to get past when on the lure.
Winsome Jacko is a beast when on song and he should be suited to this track. He has broken the 22 second barrier here over the 400-metre journey and if he gets a clear crack at them early he should be in the finish. His box manners are the only concern.
Zipping Saxon is very short at $1.90 and is better over a longer trip, but he has the good draw and he must be respected. I'm expecting him to get back early but if he gets into some open space mid-race he should charging home at the end.
Pierro Kade must also be respected, he can reel off brilliant sectionals and he can ping away at times.
Top Four: 7 – 4 – 1 – 2
1st: $1,400 2nd: $410 3rd: $205.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Winsome Mission has the class edge and with some luck in the first 50-metres he will take a power of beating. He isn't the best of beginners but he does possess a wonderful turn of foot and he is very strong in the run home. It all comes down to what happens in the early stages, with a clear run he simply wins. $2.90 fixed looks good value.
Jack Kade can ping the lids and he has been racing well at Wentworth Park recently. He normally steps quite well and musters pace at a great rate, if he can roll to the early lead he will give them something to catch.
Lucy Lobster is well drawn out wide and she loves racing over this track and trip. She should put some pressure on the leaders mid-race and if she whips around and finds the lead she might just steal the prize.
Army Surplus rounds out the winning chances, he is capable of anything on his night and if he settles near the speed he could cause an upset at odds of $11 with William Hill.
Top Four: 4 – 6 – 7 – 3
1st: $1,400 2nd: $410 3rd: $205.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Let It Develop, currently $5 with William Hill, is blessed with blistering early speed and he should be suited back to this journey. Two starts back he reeled off brilliant sectionals when posting a smart 29.90 at Wentworth Park and he has scored some devastating wins over this distance range in his career to date.
Topper Road is much better than his recent form reads and he should be in the mix for the entire journey, he normally pings the lids and shows tremendous pace, so he should have a good speed battle with the five.
La Grand Logie had no luck here last time over the shorter journey and he should appreciate the rise in distance. He has enough early toe to hold them out and he should give a nice sight.
Kulu Roo rounds out the chances, she comes here with brilliant Albion Park form and she appears to be armed with dazzling early speed also.
Top Four: 5 – 3 – 1 – 7
1st: $1,400 2nd: $410 3rd: $205.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Tullabung Honey has won four of her five starts to date in explosive fashion and with a clean getaway she should get every chance to score. Two of her wins to date have been at Bulli over this distance range and from the pink draw she should get a nice cart across in the early stages at the nice odds of $3.40 with William Hill.
Kulu Dee Jay comes here with brilliant short course form at Albion Park and he appears to be a very reliable beginner. If he can step on terms he should be able to push through and lead and he will give them something to catch.
Silver Label is another short course specialist and he has won 20 of his 39 starts to date, he should be in the firing line for most of the journey and he will be strong in the run home.
Steel The Best and Slater Hill appear to be the only other winning hopes, both have the talent but they will need luck from their draws.
Top Four: 8 – 2 – 3 – 6
1st: $1,400 2nd: $410 3rd: $205.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Silent Effective is an absolute superstar when on song and he should be suited to the wide draw at the good price of $2.65. He has had around six weeks off but he did record a sizzling 26.25 Bulli win at his last start. There is a bit of speed drawn around him but he will likely miss the kick so that should allow him to whip around and take control mid-race.
Camacho has scored some sizzling wins in recent weeks and he has plenty of speed to burn in the early stages. He reeled off a zippy 25.12 here last time and a repeat of that will see him prove hard to reel in.
Country Fox has the good draw and he should be in the mix for a long way. He lacks mid-race speed but he shouldn't be too far away when they turn for home.
Top Four: 7 – 5 – 8 – 4
1st: $1,400 2nd: $410 3rd: $205.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Great race but if Spacecraft gets a clear passage in the first 50-metres then he will get the cash. He has scored some eye popping wins at Wentworth Park in recent weeks and his sectionals have been off the charts. There is nothing in this race that can match his speed and he should win comfortably, as indicated by his short $1.85 quote.
Country Wal is a classy short course speedster and he has some very slick 400-metre Bulli wins to his credit. He should go with the favourite in the early stages and then hang on for some minor money.
Winsome Senor is well drawn out wide and he will be hitting the line hard. He is better suited to a longer journey but if the leaders bunch up he may swoop over the top late.
Lightest Touch must be respected, he sizzled around the 400-metre journey here recently in 22.28 and is currently value at $6 fixed odds with William Hill.
Top Four: 3 – 2 – 7 – 8
1st: $1,400 2nd: $410 3rd: $205.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Black Frenzy is unbeaten in seven starts to date and he should make light work of these if he can step cleanly. Last time out he stepped up to the 500-metre journey and he fell in to score at Wentworth Park in 30.14. Prior to that he posted a ridiculous 24.93 when winning over this trip. He is short at $1.90, but he should simply win.
Abunda will be suited to the wide draw and she has a good record here. With an even getaway she should be able to match motors with the six early and then hang on for the quinella spot.
Tremalor is a talented chaser when on song and she can show early speed. She has raced well here in the past and she could add some value to your exotic bets at around $7.50 with William Hill.
Country Gun is another who must be included, he has good early speed and could cause some havoc in the early stages.
Top Four: 6 – 8 – 2 – 5
1st: $1,400 2nd: $410 3rd: $205.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Great heat to finish off the night and the track record holder Winsome Prince should salute with a clear passage at the incredible value of $4 with William Hill. His recent form doesn't look too great but he is a class act and with a slow beginner in box two he should be afforded a clear run in the early stages. He has high speed mid-race and I'm expecting him to reel in the red in the closing stages.
Megan Keeping is a faultless beginner and she is drawn to lead for a long way and she is unbeaten over this track and trip.
Rivergum Drive has solid claims, he is a very fast chaser when given a clear run and from the pink he should get every chance to balance up soon after box rise.
To A Tee is another who must be included in your exotic bets, he has raced well here in the past and he will hit the line solidly.
Top Four: 3 – 1 – 8 – 5