Above: Locally prepared greyhound Maddi Keysy will start from box two in tonight’s Group 1 Sapphire Crown at Sandown Park.By Brad Kingsbury
KEYSBOROUGH-trained sprinter Maddi Keysy will join a crack field |that includes current title-holder Paua |To Burn in tonight’s (Thursday’s) |$50,000 Sapphire Crown final at Sandown Park.
Seven heats of the prestigious series highlighted last Thursday’s meeting with Maddi Keysy never challenged after jumping to the lead from box two in her heat and winning in 30.21 seconds from the promising Freycinet.
Maddi Keysy is three-and-a-half years old and was bred and is trained by Keysborough plumber Dave Wetering at his Chapple Road property.
She has proved to be a consistent money-spinner over her career with 50 starts for 14 wins, eight seconds and 11 thirds.
The dog has also become known as a Sandown Park specialist with five wins and eight placings from her 20 starts at the track.
Her career prize money is more than $51,000.
“She’s getting towards the end of her career but she is still enjoying her racing and still competing with the best,” Wetering said.
“She’s blessed with early pace and that gives here a chance in all her races. They have to catch her generally.
“She’s drawn well (tonight) and if she jumps and there’s any trouble behind, well, you never know.”
Wetering bred Maddi Keysy from Warrnambool Classic winner Witch Honcho and named her after one of his daughters.
He and his wife Sonia have six children, and Wetering said Maddi Keysy was one of the family.
“I do the dogs part-time but we all love it,” he said.
“She’s become a bit of a family pet now really.”
Wetering rates Maddi Keysy as one of the better dogs he has trained, along |with Lizrene Classic winner Clarksy Keysy, and intends to breed from her after she retires.
Three-time Group 1 winner Paua To Burn was impressive with a slashing 29.81 heat win and was the only qualifier to better the 30-second mark.
The black and white daughter of Awesome Assassin started an odds-on chance and scored by 12 lengths.
Tonight is Ladies Night at Sandown Park, with the entry fee waived for all ladies and the first 150 ladies through the gate receiving a complementary gift bag valued at $80.
The night kicks off four weeks of high-class racing at Sandown Park, with the $50,000 winner-takes-all Group 2 Shootout to be run on Thursday, 10 November, followed by the heats (17 November) and final of the 50th running of the $214,500 Group 1 Melbourne Cup on Thursday, 24 November.
The box draw for tonight’s Sapphire Crown final is: 1. Dynamo Gypsy, 2. Maddi Keysy, 3. Hoot’s Mun, 4. Frosty Fruits, 5. Paua To Burn, 6. Wongawillicath, 7. Silent Charisma, 8. All Style, 9. Freycinet (reserve) and 10. Saint Assassin (reserve).
