START A Riot, who came from third early to win the group one Peter Mosman Opal at Wentworth Park in July, is shaping up as the surprise package in Thursday night's heats of the Dapto Megastar.
Trained in Victoria by Keith Hellmuth, Start A Riot has drawn box two in heat three of the 520m event, and while her recent form is not spectacular, her trainer considers she is going as well as when she won the Peter Mosman.
"She just has not been having any luck,'' Hellmuth said.
"Little bitches like her can't handle a knock and she has been getting bumped around in most of her races lately.
"Start A Riot has not raced or trialled at Dapto but I don't think that will worry her.
"She is usually a good beginner and her box two draw looks suitable, especially as she seems to have dodged being in the strongest heats.''
Hellmuth knows what it takes to win a big race at Dapto, as he took out the 2013 Megastar final with his champion sprinter Peter Rocket.
After that greyhound won the Megastar from box two _ the same draw Start A Riot has on Thursday _ Peter Rocket's record while wearing the black and white striped rug stood at six wins and five placings from 11 starts.
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Feral Franky is enjoying a well-earned week off following his gallant second behind Victorian superstar Sennachie in last week's Sandown match race.
"I am tossing up whether to bring him back to Wentworth Park for a race or two or save him for the group one Summer Carnival Sprint Cup series at Albion Park, Brisbane, next month,'' trainer Raymond Smith said.
Heats of the 520m Cup, open to the best 64 nominations, will be held on January 2 with the $150,000 to the winner final eight nights later.
Feral Franky knows his way around Albion Park as he took out the group 3 Flying Amy Classic there on June 13.
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RAY Sims who landed a winning treble at Goulburn on Tuesday, is now based at Illabo, near Wagga, but once pre-trained some of Sydney's fastest greyhounds.
Sims, whose son Peter is currently among Sydney's leading trainers, launched the careers of group 1 winners like Daily Tide, who took out the 1965 Vic Peters Classic at Harold Park, and 1978 National Derby winner True Leader
Now 77, Sims won at Goulburn with Soustaille and litter brothers Ritza Kez and Ritza Go Boy.
Ritza Kez and Ritza Go Boy are bred in the purple, being by Ritza Lenny from Ritza Hattie, and are owned by Mark Gatt, who trained their sire and dam.
Their litter brother Ritza Donald, also owned by Mark Gatt but trained by JODIE Lord, is one of the favourites for Friday night's NSW Bred Maiden Final at Wentworth Park.
Gatt explained: "Early on it seemed unlikely that Ritza Donald and his brothers would run out a strong 520 metres.
"So I asked JODIE Lord to take Ritza Donald, who was the quickest of them, because she races regularly at tracks like Goulburn where there are plenty of 440m races.
"Just a few weeks back JODIE contacted me and predicted Ritza Donald would have no trouble winning at Wenty Park because he had become a lot stronger.
"Sure enough he led all the way to win his 520m Maiden heat, at his first start on November 29, in 30.03.''
