Thomas' Grand Grafton Maiden Prospect

SAWYER'S Gully trainer Darryl Thomas is a much relieved man today after La Grand Quality finally shook off the tag of “Australia's fastest maiden” greyhound by winning a heat of the Taylor Family Classic July Maiden (407m) at Grafton last night.

Bred, reared and owned by Kellie Fogarty, La Grand Quality (El Grand Senor-All Quality) has always had a huge wrap on him.

“It was his time to stand up,” said Darryl of the dog's 23.24 maiden heat victory as the $1.35 favourite.

“He trialled 22.10 at Maitland at his second ever trial over 400 metres and from that moment on, everyone has been watching the dog.”

Thomas took the dog to Ipswich for the Vince Curry Maiden series in February and both of them were almost killed in an accident on the trip north that wrote off Thomas' car.

The dog finished fourth at Ipswich in his heat as the $1.45 favourite.

He then went to Bulli in March and ran up against the brilliant Ritza Vonnie in the Graham Gibbons Memorial Maiden series heat and final.

“He wasn't the same dog at Bulli. He's been plagued with soreness in a bone above his wrist,” said Darryl. “It affected him at Bulli.”

Thomas rates the dog highly.

“He has got good box manners and is generally a good beginner for a big dog,” he said. “But he is desperate for the eight box.”

That could be a problem for La Grand Quality's chances in next week's rich final.

“The eight dog in the final (Woodview Ace) wants to get to the rails,” said Thomas.

“But, the box draw has really made the final an open race.

“Tony Brett's dog (Aston Poker) is well educated and desperate to get to the fence as well. But, he's got the six and the five (Aston Bintang) could hold him up because it wants to get off the track a bit.

“Whatever leads around the first turn will probably win the final. There is not much between any of the finalists.”

Thomas gave Mick Manuel's finalist Chevy Rock, a 23.35 heat winner, a great chance off box two.

“I know Mick's dog went into the heat without a lot of education and I think he will be a very big improver for the final,” he said.

Robert Cooke's Woodview Ace (Zambora Brockie-Cash In Motion) is royally bred and was impressive in winning its heat in 23.29 as the $1.60 favourite.

Both sire and dam were Group 1 winners.

Aston Poker (bred on the same cross as Group 1 champion Aston Dee Bee) ran the quickest of the seven heats with a 23.20 victory as a $1.20 favourite for Tony Brett, winning by six and a half lengths but from a favoured box two draw.