Darryl Thomas knows his dog and what box one means. He admits it has potential to be a hinderance, or it could be the catalyst to see La Grand Quality lead Thursday night’s Maitland Gold Cup field, and if he leads, it could then be just about margins and times.
La Grand Quality was exceptional last Thursday in the heats of the Group 2 Husqvarna-sponsored event, giving the speedy Turbo Thomas a big start, running him down and clocking the fastest time of the semis, a slashing 24.74s, and after coming up with box one, most think he is unbeatable in the $40,000 to the winner event.
“I was a little bit concerned because he didn’t have the greatest preparation going into last week’s race,” Thomas said on Thursday. “But he’s come out of it very, very well. His work has been terrific throughout the week, he’s injury free and ready to run.
“His run for me was sensational last week. To catch that dog – to give Turbo four or five lengths’ start. When he jumped he wanted to crash to the rails and he sort of brought himself undone, and let Turbo get away.
“But to run him down, and be wide and make the ground up, I thought it was a sensational run. But, it’s all different tonight. It all changes again.
“The box draw … he’s needs to use his box and if he doesn’t, if he dwells at the start, he’s got no chance. Hopefully he uses his box to his advantage.”
The Maitland Gold Cup has drawn together a quality field with Jason Mackay’s Turbo Thomas who clocked 24.81s in running second to La Grand Quality, the obvious danger.
“Believe it or not I think Turbo Thomas is well boxed in the six,” Thomas said. “He’s got a dog inside him (Ebby Infrared) that can dwell, and Knight’s Page outside him who wants to be wide, and Turbo just won’t miss it, he’s so professional. I can see him being right there.
“Maybe for me the three dog (Fire And Ice) looks my biggest problem because she can really shanghai out and will put a lot of pressure down on the rail on him, but, if he can come out, and hold his spot, then the one box may be the right box tonight.”
After finishing fourth in the Ballarat Cup Final in December, La Grand Quality then went to Warragul in January and won their Cup to open his group racing account. It was that performance at Ballarat however which Thomas believes helped his dog step up in company.
“I think he has learnt to race the better dogs and in the Ballarat Cup final he learnt a lot,” Thomas said. “He thought he could whatever he wanted and they just gave it to him.
“I came away thinking if he keeps doing these things in big races he’s got no chance, but since then I went to Warragul and I think that was one of the best Warragul Cup fields you will see - Whiskey Riot and Crimson Vixen who is one of the best one turn Cup specialists down there - and he led that field.
“I think that if he can produce that sort of run again, he will be right on pace and I wouldn’t be surprised if does get the start right, that he does lead.”
Should that be the case then not only will the incredibly difficult to run past, but his own track record of 24.56s will be under serious threat.
