It’s not every day that an Australian record holder has to fight for supremacy in greyhound kennels however that’s exactly what’s happening in the Jason Mackay yard.
Turbo Thomas, who set Australian greyhound racing alight when he broke the record for the most consecutive wins on Australian TAB Tracks with 17 in January this year, has stiff competition in the Mackay kennels in the form of Group 1 National Futurity winner Zipping Veyron.
And while Mackay knows just how special ‘Thomas’ is, he wouldn’t look past his Group 1 champion for the world in Thursday’s Husqvarna Maitland Cup Heats.
“I’m going to be honest and say I wouldn’t swap her (Zipping Veyron) for too many in the Cup heats,” said Mackay.
“Her last 13 starts are for 12 wins and she as that high, high speed when the lids open and she can put a gap between most rivals.”
And despite just the lone run on his home track, Mackay is of the opinion that her superior record will hold her in good stead come race time.
“She’s only had the one start there at Maitland over the 450m.
“25.04s, I thought that was pretty good and she went to Bulli and had her first look and ran 22.30-odd so she knows he way around the U-Turns.
“Her best is probably the two corners, but it wouldn’t surprise me what she’d do there tomorrow night (Thursday).
In her Heat, Zipping Veyron is set to face a greyhound many believe is a star on the rise, Bill Bath, who is now under the tutelage of Peter Mattress.
The youngsters overall record stands at seven wins from 22 starts however it is his two most recent runs that have tongues wagging – a first place 24.80s BON (27/02) and most recently a dominant 25.17s victory in the wet, both over the 450m at Maitland.
Mackay praised the talent of Bill Bath however backed his own, saying Zipping Veyron may just have the big race edge needed to get the job done.
“He’s a promising young pup, Bill Bath but he hasn’t got to that level she’s got to.
“She’s a Group 1 and I don’t think he’s had a chance to get there yet.
“He’s a good young dog but I wouldn’t be swapping her for too many because she’ll push to the front and it becomes irrelevant what the others do.”
