Thomas Unearths Hot Duo In Ladbrokes Maiden

CASINO Cup winning trainer John Thomas took a phone call on Sunday night from a “reliable source” warning him of some tough rivals in a heat of the Ladbrokes Maiden series (411m) at Casino on Tuesday.

John has two “hot youngsters” himself in Chance Model, drawn the rails in heats two, and Nora's Boy in the four in heat four.

The Ladbrokes Maiden has become a feature of Northern Rivers racing at Lismore unearthing some outstanding race dogs in years gone by.

With the floods wiping out the Lismore track, the maiden series has been switched to Casino.

“I got a phone call on Sunday to warn me that both Omar Dutton and Pan's Rose had trialled sensationally around Casino leading up to tomorrow's heat,” said John.

While that would normally make Thomas wary, he is talking up Chance Model (Barcia Bale-Champion Model) as a potential top liner.

“Andy Lord sent the dog to me with the wrap he was very good and that he would win some nice races for us all,” said John.

“Clay Mullens owns him and he is beautifully bred.”

He is indeed.

His dam Champion Model won 25 races and $93,000 and is already the dam of Coast Model (25 wins, $239,000), Cop Magnet (20 wins, $88,000) by Fernando Bale and Coco Model (16 wins, $80,000) by Barcia Bale.

“Chance Model has been to Casino twice and trialled well both times,” said John.

“He will run around 23.30 on Tuesday and from the one box he should race well.”

Of Nora's Boy (La Grand Quality-Cyclone Nora) he believes he too is a pup of exceptional quality but that will come “down the track”.

“He has had a 300 there a month ago at his first look at Casino,” said John.

“I've rushed him a bit for this but he has been trialling 22.60 around the Gardens.

“He is very, very good but the four is not a help.

“Within the next few months he will be a much better dog.

“There are a few inside him with experience on Tuesday and they might just kick up underneath him.”

He is the first of the progeny of former sprint star La Grand Quality too hit the racetrack.