Katana Heads Gallaway's Maitland Cup Chances

PROLIFIC country winner Katana is the best of three chances from the Jim Gallaway/Julie King kennel near Grafton in the heats of the Maitland Gold Cup (450m) on Thursday afternoon.

Katana (Barcia Bale-Splash Of Magic) is drawn the six in the second heat and Gallaway rates him the best of the chances.

The other heat runners are Scraping By, a brother to Katana, drawn the six in the third heat, while Tipping (Barcia Bale-Sheza Sensation) is drawn in three in the fifth heat.

FIELDS AND FORM MAITLAND THURSDAY

Julie King trains Scraping By.

“Katana is the best of the three,” said Jim. “He is the strongest of them.”

But Gallaway knows the task of the Grafton trio will be tough considering the quality of the heats of the Cup.

“They are pretty hot fields,” he said “But you have got to expect that because you are running in a Group race.”

Katana has a vacant box inside him and Jim says this is a bonus.

“All three have been to Maitland a few times and their experience on the track will be good for them,” he said.

“Scraping By broke the track record at Wauchope recently while Katana has run hot time at Maitland as well.”

Jim Gallaway is 86 and has been in greyhound racing since the early 1970s.

He is a master greyhound trainer who is never without a quality performer.

He and Julie have been breeding with the same damline for some generations.