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Consistent performer Pedro Cerrano looks ideally drawn to take out the feature race at Thursday’s Dapto meeting.
The John Little-trained greyhound jumps from box one in the $4000-to-the-winner XXXX Gold Derby Final (520m, race six) aiming to score his first win in 13 starts.
After two unsuccessful outings over the 600m, Pedro Cerrano returned to form with a narrow loss to Avenging Gun over the 520m at Dapto last week.
He has won both his previous starts from box one and with a sizzling best of 29.40 at Dapto to his name, the son of Where’s Pedro and Chasing Diana looks capable of saluting in this.
“He likes it Dapto – it’s where he certainly seems close to his best,” Little said. “He also has the advantage of box one which in a race like this is obviously a big bonus.
“If he begins well then I would expect him to beat Ritza Rossi in box four, who is a very smart greyhound and the main danger.
“I’m reasonably confident that if he jumps well he will be tough to stop with this draw.”
Pedro Cerrano has won three times and placed four times in 10 previous starts at Dapto and has been a handy performer for Little since debuting in February last year.
He has scored three wins at Wentworth Park and has been in contention to score a first Group title for Little in his 60 years of training.
“We thought he had a chance in the National Derby this year when he drew box two in the final, but unfortunately he missed the start and that was it,” Little said.
“I still think he may have a Group race in him, although obviously it is very tough in that class of greyhounds.
“I’d say he’s back somewhere close to his best again now and I think he can win this.”
In other Dapto Thursday action, Struggle Street (box eight) looks the night’s best bet in race eight over the 600m.
The Kristy Sultana-trained greyhound ran a sound 34.61 over the 600m at Dapto last week to place behind winner Spanish Flair and has scored one win and four placings from five previous starts wearing the pink rug.
Fantastic Blake and Fantastic Zoe both look the latest handy newcomers for the gun kennel of Jason Fletcher and can win races one and three respectively, despite each drawing the tricky box four.
Za Zing (box one) has been below-par on his last two starts – albeit in quality company – but looks ideally drawn to win race seven over the 520m.
The Jason Magri-trained greyhound has scored three wins and five placings from 11 starts and run quick times at Bulli and Maitland.
For Dapto Thursday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
