Ebby Jet Power Wins Maitland Cup Thriller

EBBY Jet Power has followed in the footsteps of his older half-brother Aussie Infrared and landed victory in the Group 2 Maitland Gold Cup (450m).

In a thrilling finish to Thursday night's $40,000-to-the-winner decider, Ebby Jet Power edged out a gallant More Sauce in the drive to the line to claim the first Group win of his sparkling career.

Last year trainer Michael Eberand had to settle for second in the Maitland Cup when Ebby Infrared, a son of 2017 Cup winner Aussie Infrared, finished a gallant runner-up to tear-away winner Mottza.

But 12 months on and Oakville-based Eberand leaves Maitland with the Cup firmly in his possession after the big striding Ebby Jet Power stuck his head out when it mattered most in the Group 2 Hunter Valley showpiece.

Producing a ding-dong battle down the Maitland straight, just a half-head separated the pair at the finish while Amarillo Highway rattled home late to finish a length third.

Race favourite Zulu Warlord uncharacteristically missed the start from box eight and was never really in the picture.

In last week's heats, Ebby Jet Power finished 3 ¼ lengths astern of the Michelle Lil-trained More Sauce in a blistering  24.76 at his Maitland debut.

Punters incredibly sent the prolific winning city sprinter out at $14 for Thursday night's Group 2 contest and after landing in a striking position early, the regally bred chaser always looked like playing a major hand in proceedings.

A son of Fernando Bale and grand producer Ebby Miss, Thursday night's Maitland Cup triumph extended Ebby Jet Power's career record to 21 wins from 45 starts with prizemoney now upwards of $120,000.

It also added yet another big race win to the incredible deeds of dam Ebby Miss whose progeny has now netted an incredible 298 race wins and $1.4 million in prizemoney.

Leading her all-star list of offspring is glamour stayer Ebby Ripper but also includes former high caliber chasers the ilk of fellow group winners Suffragette, Barking Bad and Aussie Infrared just to name a few.

Two races following Ebby Jet Power's Maitland Cup success his kennelmate Ebby Infrared, second in last year's Cup, took out the free for all event in a tidy 25.11, capping off a big night for Michael and Tanya Eberand.