Maitland Record Holder On Thousand Trail

DARRYL Thomas has earmarked December's Group 1 Hobart Thousand for his new Maitland track record holder La Grand Quality.

On Thursday afternoon, the big striding son of El Grand Senor and All Quality recorded a flying 24.56 for the 450-metres, lowering Pindari Express' previous 24.59 time-standard by .03 of a second.

"I said if he got an early race on a good track he'd break it and he did," Thomas beamed.

"But as it turned out the track looked to get quicker as the afternoon went on but I'm not complaining – how can you?"

Winner at five of his nine starts, La Grand Quality put the Maitland track record on notice back on October 3 with a breathtaking 24.68 victory.

"He's still got more in him I reckon because he's still not nailing the start … I put that down to me not racing him that much, he needs that continuity of racing," Thomas added.

"He was a really good beginner early on and when you go from reserve grade to first grade which is what we'll look to do now you can't afford to do things wrong. It's definitely in him to begin better."

Undecided where and when his star conveyance will next face the starter, what is certain is that Thomas has the $75,000 to-the-winner Hobart Thousand firmly in his sights, the flagship event getting underway on December 12.

"I was planning on going to the Ballarat Cup and then the Hobart Thousand but I've been told those races clash so I'll just focus on Hobart now," Thomas said.

"I told his owner Kellie three months ago Hobart would be his track, I'll just prepare him towards that – he should be suited perfect there."

While Thomas enjoyed success at Maitland on Thursday, the Sawyers Gully trainer admitted to returning from Queensland on Friday with his tail between his legs after the indifferent performance of Barbaresco in a heat of the Young Guns at Albion Park on Thursday night.

"He generally goes good first up at tracks but things just didn't work out so it's back to the drawing board," Thomas said.

"He can be a bit funny the dog but the experience will have done him good. He hasn't pulled up that great from the run and is a bit lame so we'll just see where we head next with him."