A 12-race program – with starts at 297m, 520m and 600m - kicks off at 6:57pm on Thursday, July 6 at Dapto. Here’s our preview of the card.
SPORTSBET BEST BET R5 - #3 Leg Speed
Has been off the scene since February after finishing down the track behind Metal Torc in a rough old fifth-grade affair. The son of Pat C Sabbath did win at Dapto over the 520m in a very sharp time of 29.62 in January though.
Dapto has always been a happy hunting ground for Mark Gatt-trained runners, with the kennel enjoying a 33% win rate at the circuit in 310 career starts.
This guy has been a bit of an enigma though, with eight starts resulting in one win and three minors. He’s also gone down at odds of under $2 on six occasions so let’s see what he can do on his return in a fifth-grade heat.
“The dog can run, he’s gone 29.60 down at Dapto so he’s always had ability but he’s a bit of a clutz and not the smartest dog in a field yet. He’ll need the run after being out for a while but he’s been trialling good, so we’ll see how he goes. He’s had a good break and I know he’s let the Punters down a few times before but hopefully he’s come back a better dog,” Mark Gatt said.
Won and won well a week ago in 17.17, and on paper at least, he would need to lose a few lengths or run into bad luck to get knocked off in this race you would think.
He does step up from a maiden event to a fifth-grade race but no other greyhound in the field has broken 17.31 for the 297m trip yet. Calamity Joe ran 5.42 to the first mark Seven days ago but went even quicker on debut back in February (5.33), so if he can go somewhere between those efforts from a nice draw in Box 3 on Thursday night, he looks mighty hard to beat.
The son of Aussie Infrared is still only a lightly raced prospect too so you’d think there’s still significant upside after only eight career runs.
RACE OF THE NIGHT Race 8 | GRNSW Middle Distance Series Non Graded 600m | 9:37pm
We’ve seen some gripping middle-distance contests over the last 12 months at Dapto and the return of two key Lord runners, as well as the appearance of a Jason Magri-trained rising star, should get tongues wagging once again this Thursday night.
Punter’s Bandit will jump from Box 1 (where she’s won five of six career starts) and run at the famous South Coast circuit for the first time since December last year. She finished fourth that night in the final of the G1 Sportsbet Dapto Megastar behind kennelmate Good Odds Emma, and surprisingly has never won a race at the venue. Seven career starts have netted her four placings, with her best time over the 600m a sharp 34.18.
Punter's Bandit is a Group 2 winner after taking out the 2023 GosfordGold Cup
Group 1-placed kennelmate Cawbourne Magic will also step out at Dapto where he has a stellar record. Seven starts at the track and trip have resulted in four wins and three minor placings, including victory in the Dapto Middle Distance Championship final in November. The son of Fernando Bale hasn’t won a race since May though and only has the one win in his last 11 race starts, although he has been racing against much tougher opposition.
On the contrary, Zipping Digby is racing in super form at the moment with the son of Zipping Garth winning Seven of his last nine outings. His form at Dapto is blemish free as well, with Digby greeting the judge first in all three starts at the track (two over 520m and one over 600m). His sole run over the middle-distance came in May when he knocked off Energizer Miss (also in this race) by 4.25 lengths and stopped the clock in 34.43. Possesses the best early pace in the race and could be hard to catch if he jumps and leads on a renowned frontrunners circuit.
Lady Stomp is an interesting runner going around for youngster Ayden Sheridan. Sheridan hasn’t had a dog race in his name since June last year but was rugging up both Lady Stomp and her litter brother Silver Luck for the first half of 2022. Lady Stomp can run, she’s got three wins at the track, she claimed a race victory at DaptoSeven days ago (albeit in lower grade) and has a best time of 34.38 which would be competitive in this field.
Sandstorm Rico will jump from Box 6 and is yet to race at the track in his 46 starts. He does have form behind potential superstar Like Wildfire at both Gosford and The Gardens, but both runs have been minor placings by considerable margins. Has had several starts over the middle-distance trips now so should be hard fit and could sneak into the frame.
Fierce Duke (R1) - he's a good chance because he's a good beginner and he chases good. I don't know if he's boxed well out wide but they'll know he's in the race and has trialled well.
Fierce Hannah (R2) - she should improve out of sight off her run last week. She'd never been further than 300m before her last run and I just thought I'd chuck her in to see how she'd go. The time she ran (31.01) was slow but she did get checked twice. All things considered, she should be capable of 30.4 which might be good enough to win this race. Box 5 might be OK as she uses a bit of track so she might head to the outside again.
Aqua Jaguar (R4) - he missed about Seven months after getting injured at Wenty Park in 2022 but came back earlier this year and has won at Dapto since then. He's just not showing the same speed as he used to but he's a lot better than his form says.
Fierce Trixie (R11) - if she fires out of the boxes she should find the lead and then she'll be hard to beat again. I think she's better boxed inside but she has run well from wide boxes in her last two starts at Dapto.
Fierce Princess (R12) - she won her maiden at Dapto in really slow time. The next two starts she started beautifully but got checked both times so hoping Box 1 will really suit her.
Best Chance | Probably Fierce Trixie but I'm not too confident.
