Leonardo Dicaprio has been the name on Hollywood’s lips this week and his namesake looks the one to watch at tonight’s Dapto meeting.
Short course star Dicaprio jumps from box five in the night’s last race, the 297m Track Record Le Sands Stakes (297m), aiming for a 16th win in 30 starts.
Kim Mulrine’s greyhound returned from two months out with a terrific win 330m at Richmond on February 17 and repeated that success on February 24.
And with Dicaprio - the actor - scoring a Best Actor title at cinema’s Oscar Awards earlier this week, the greyhound looks a good omen bet tonight.
“He’s looking a million dollars and it’s just a matter of whether he jumps well,” Mulrine said. “He’s got that tremendous speed, so when he jumps in front he can pull away.
“He’s a super little greyhound and does everything right. He’s unbeaten at Dapto and I’m optimistic for this one.”
Dicaprio has won both his previous starts at Dapto, including a 16.90 effort in September last year.
He has only won two of his six previous starts from box five but is usually a dazzling starter and looks capable of leading these.
“I don’t know how he does it,” Mulrine said. “He’d never been to Richmond but won there first up - same with Bathurst too.
“Even if he misses the start he seems he seems to hit the ground and take off.
“He’s a bit of a spoilt greyhound, but he’s earned it. The whole family love him and he loves us.”
In other Dapto Thursday action, Specific (box eight) was a super 29.86 winner over the 520m last week and looks the top pick in race two (600m).
The latest exciting pup from the gun Mark Gatt kennel, she has not placed in two previous starts from box eight but in current form can win this.
Sokyo (box one) has his first start over the 600m in race four but looks a strong chance.
The Christine Oldfield-trained greyhound has won three of his previous seven starts from box one and loves Dapto, with eight wins from 13 previous starts at the track.
Simon Rhodes enjoyed a terrific 2015 at Dapto and the Bargo trainer could be celebrating a win with Dyna Nerf (box five) in race five.
He was a smart 30.24 winner at Dapto in January and backed that up with a sound placing last week.
Miss Mcqueen showed improved form on her last start and can win the night’s feature race, the Rellie Robins Maiden Series Final (race three, 520m).
The newcomer (box four) scored her maiden win at Dapto from box five last week and is in good hands with Justin King.
For Dapto Thursday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
