Ritza Hattie faces a daunting return to racing at next week's Group 1 Sportingbet Megastar Final (520m) but owner-trainer Mark Gatt is confident she can do him proud.
Last year’s Group 2 Macro Meats Laurels winner (pictured) has received an automatic seeding into the final at Dapto on Friday, September 12 despite not having run in almost four months.
With 14 wins from 28 starts, including a storming triumph in last year’s Group 3 Nowra Puppy Classic, the exciting chaser is still likely to pose a big threat to the high-class opposition in the $75,000-to-winner race.
Gatt conceded his sprinter faced a tough task coming back for the final but said her chances could not be discounted.
“I’m sure we can have her pretty right and spot-on for the race,” he said.
“I don’ t expect much but I’m fairly confident she can come back strong.
“I’m confident she will race well.”
Ritza Hattie’s 2014 achievements include winning the Group 3 Ambrosoli Sprint Series FInal and a runners-up berth in the Group 3 Evans & Son Jewellers Ladies Bracelet behind fellow Megastar finalist Zipping Willow.
She has not run since a appearing at Sandown Park in early May after being rested due to injuries and then coming on season.
Gatt has been working her for about two months and is planning to give her another trial at Dapto before the big race.
She is two from two at Dapto – both over 520m – and Gatt reckons she could threaten with a favourable box draw.
“She needs the one, two or three,” he said.
“These dogs are so good and there’s nothing between them, but it’s so hard to go round them when they are so fast.
“It’s a bit of an ask to come back straight into a Group race and she might need a bit more time, but I think she can come back as good as ever.”
Gatt said he was also priming Ritza Hattie for the Group 2 Bob Payne Spring Sprint (520m) later in September.
“We’ve sold a few of our good dogs,” he said. “We’ve got a few pups coming through but it’s been a bit hard to get a winner recently.
“Ritza Hattie is really the last one of our good dogs standing for us so we hope she’s got a few more wins in her yet.”
The other automatic finalists are Flash Reality, Tommy Brislane and recent National Sprint winner Chica Destacada.
The Megastar kicks off with this Friday's prelude, where the top three finishers will earn places in the final.
This year’s Megastar is the latest leg of the exciting new Thank Dog It’s Friday series, which aims to promote racing at regional tracks across NSW.
