Flying Ricciardo will make a surprise visit to Maitland on Monday for a $1500-to-the-winner 450-metre race as a first step back from injury and towards the Golden Easter Eggs series.
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A winner of 19 races in 23 starts, Flying Ricciardo last run and won at the group 1 Dapto Megastar on December 10. Trainer Kristy Sultana was planning a Melbourne trip before injury struck.
Flying Ricciardo, with box one in race eight, will be expected to dominate at Maitland, where he has competed once, in August last year, for a 450m win in 24.82 seconds.
His last trip to the Hunter was in late August for the group 2 Black Top at The Gardens, which he won to launch his stakes success.
Meanwhile, Jason Mackay-trained Avalanche was luckless at the draw for the group 2 Richmond Derby (535m) after a stunning heat win on Friday night.
Avalanche, on debut for the Richmond Vale trainer, upstaged star Wow to run a sizzling 30.07, but then drew box seven for the decider.
Sawyers Gully trainer Darryl Thomas was another winner at the meeting when unbeaten Connections claimed the Red Dog series final.
At Wentworth Park on Saturday night, Kid Psycho (Geoff Grimwood) and Knight's Page (Gayle Masterson) were Hunter winners.
Craig Kerry
Craig Kerry is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald.
Craig Kerry is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald.
