Would cap off a pretty good year if she could produce a victory on Friday and it would be a bit of a full circle moment considering she debuted at Maitland back in April.
Since then, Tracey Taro has won nine races and had 10 minor placings, claimed the Gosford Goldmine final and qualified for the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase.
Could be the most reliable beginner in the field and if she can fend Black Myth Wave off in the run to the bend, she could lead this race for a while just like she did in the heats.
Interestingly, no greyhound has won the Maitland Gold Cup final from the red in the last 15 years.
Ladbrokes Price | $8.50
Tracey Taro after her heat performance
Black Myth Wave | Vic Sultana
Began well from Box 8 before surging down to the fence through the bend in the heats, eventually running away a comfortable 2.25 length winner over Trio Of Clowns (who has run some big races in the back half of the year).
If he can repeat the 7.74 first section, he should be fighting it out for the lead in the early stages and now that he’s drawn more favourably, he’s the biggest danger in the race.
Has mixed his form since appearing in the Nowra Puppy Classic and Brother Fox finals back in April/May with three wins to go with nine unplaced efforts from 17 starts.
Most of those runs have been in non-graded company though and think he has the best pedigree of the finalists with a 24.81 track and trip PB.
Has won three of his last four with the only blemish coming in a hot Brother Fox final out at Dubbo two weekends ago.
Certainly has a good enough motor to win this race but will probably have to do it from behind with the two key speed influences drawn inside.
Has shown a liking for the Maitland 450m with three wins from five starts there but might have to lower his PB if he’s to win (the last five winners of the Maitland Cup have all broken 25.00 which is Allan Keeping’s PB).
Get the feeling Jason Magri has been waiting for this guy to realise his potential and after appearances in two Group finals already this year (Brother Fox and Vic Peters Classic), this could be his race with even luck.
The beneficiary of Gold Force’s untimely scratching and comes into Box 4 which gives him a chance.
On paper at least, it looks like Shorty Boy, Ali Tango (5) and Federal Bullet (6) could all be running identical first sections so whoever emerges from the ruck could the main threat to the leaders.
Has been racing predominately in Victoria over the last few months for some honest results including a Group 2 Healesville Cup finals appearance.
Understand Shorty Boy is in the care of owner Matthew Bryant for his tilt at the Cup, with the Dave Geall polish sure to give him a hope.
Ladbrokes Price | $9
Shorty Boy gets a run after a toe injury forced Gold Force out of the final
Ali Tango | Joseph Mcfadyen
Trainer Joe McFadyen knows how to win a Maitland Cup after achieving the feat with Nangar Jim a few years ago, can he add another trophy with Ali Tango?
The dog was very good in the heats and it was built off a good jump which isn’t always the case for this experienced chaser.
Box 5 in the final certainly isn’t as appealing and he’ll want to be ahead of Federal Bullet through the bend if he’s any chance of winning.
Knows the track inside and out but the knock on him is his lack of racing in the second half of 2025, only having had two races since September and three starts since June.
Building an imposing record of 39 starts for 17 wins and 12 minors and Jason Mackay last won this race in 2018 with Aston Duke.
Mackay does a lot of his racing at Maitland these days so Federal Bullet is well schooled on the track and has an unblemished record of three starts for three wins over the Maitland 450m.
He also seems to handle wide draws with six of his wins coming from Boxes 6, 7 and 8.
Has won four of his last five starts, including his Maitland Cup heat in 24.88, with his win over Zipping Xaden three back certainly jumping off the page.
He’s my tip for the final, so long as he can find a nice position one or two off the fence heading through the bend.
She’s a sister to Sooty Keeping but a greyhound I certainly can never find despite her ability and versatility.
Has been single figure odds in her last 26 starts across several tracks and distances, winning seven of them with a further 10 placings.
Was a runner-up to Federal Bullet in the heats and did everything she could from a nice draw with a good run (25.01).
Inexperienced at the track with only one start at Maitland and hasn’t won in 10 starts from Box 7 so happy to watch her go around.
Ladbrokes Price | $13
Rema's Amethyst is a daughter of Feral Franky x Rema's Jade
Tarawi Lock | David Smith
Youngest dog in a field of experienced chasers and doesn’t turn two until next week so would be a surprise winner in my eyes.
One thing in his favour is the experience on the Maitland U-Turn with eight starts for the Smith kennel resulting in four wins and two minors.
He tried hard in the heats behind Ali Tango and if he didn’t get checked approaching the first bend, he may well have finished closer of even over the top of the winner.
Could get the swooping run in the final with a lot of dogs lacking pace and destined to bunch up on the bend but think his best hope is minor money.
Ladbrokes Price | $9
Tarawi Lock is from the same line as Thunderbolt winner, Vamoose
My Tips
6. Federal Bullet
2. Black Myth Wave
1. Tracey Taro
3. Allan Keeping
The Group 2 East Maitland Bowling Club Gold Cup final, worth $40,000 to the winner, will be run in Race 9 on the program at 9:38pm.
The Ladbrokes Future Stars Maiden Final will also be run in Race 6 (8:38pm) on the card.
All the action kicks off at the Maitland Showground at 6:57pm this Friday night.
