This son of Orson Allen has built a pretty good record for Andrew Rowe with 14 career outings resulting in five wins and three runners-up cheques.
His latest victory came at Goulburn over 440m on August 4 when he put three lengths on Bill & Peg Miller finalist Spring Whiskey in a time of 24.94 and his good early pace is sure to help him drive out from Box 1 on Thursday night.
In three runs over the Dapto 520m, Taw Commander has registered a win in 30.41, a second to Aussie Summer in 30.00, and a down the track finish behind Leg Speed in 31.04.
A repeat of that minor placed effort would make him more than competitive in this field and he gets the box to add another win to the CV. Just needs to jump on terms as there is a bit of early speed drawn in the middle of the track.
“He’s just perfectly boxed and I expect him to perform well. His run in the heats of the series at Goulburn was good and even though he was badly boxed in the final, I still thought it was a really good run. This is a race he can win and at his best he can go 30 dead, which should be good enough. I think he’s a handy dog to have in the kennel and his litter has been growing and learning and maturing throughout the WINTER so hopefully over the next period they can produce some good runs on a consistent basis,” Rowe said.
A 10-time winner from 14 starts, the Fred Shoobert-trained chaser returns to Dapto for the first time since May and brings an unbeaten record with him.
Hooked On Fame began his career at the track earlier this year and won his first five runs, all over the 297m journey, in sharp times ranging from 16.76 to 16.91. His combined winning margin in those five outings was more than 23 lengths and it’s hard to see him not running well from Box 8.
The son of Hooked On Scotch hasn’t been seen since finishing down the track behind Fire Hose at Goulburn a little over a month ago, but he had won another five straight races in Lilac City before that outing to further enhance his growing reputation.
He’s only had the one miss from four goes in the pink rug, and with the speed map looking a little messy, he stands out as one of the bets of the card from the wide draw.
Dapto 600m track record holder Bandit Jane (Box 1) returns to the track for the first time since March and with the gun draw, looks hard to beat. She made her return to the track after four months off in last week’s NSW National Distance final, and although she finished a long way behind eventual winner Zipping Vanessa, she showed her customary pace once the lids flew to lead the race early. She tired late but should have derived great benefit from the run and she loves the middle distance at Dapto (9: 4-1-1).
Ritza Piper (Box 2) makes her race debut at Dapto despite being locally trained by big Joe Scerri. She also went around in the NSW National Distance final but was never a winning hope after being slightly slow away and then getting galloped on by eventual runner-up Palawa King. Suited better over the staying trip so it is interesting placement by Scerri, but she can make her own luck on speed at a track that usually suits front runners.
Phil Goodsell will send Energizer Miss (Box 3) around over 600m after a couple of decent efforts over the sprint trip at Wentworth Park. She’s picked up placings behind two sharp types in Totally Deluded and One Hot Bandit in her last two runs but is better suited over further.
Widdicombe Bale (Box 4) will find this tough but is hard fit and has run at the venue 12 times since May. A best of 34.93 is unlikely to win the race so will need to find a few lengths to figure.
It’s not often you see a Dennis Barnes runner at Dapto but ‘715’ placegetter Nangar Rocket (Box 6 and pictured below) will go around the famous South Coast track for the first time on Thursday night. The son of Feral Franky has won his last two at Gosford and The Gardens in BON times over the middle distance and he adds real intrigue to an already talent-laden field. Has been here, there and everywhere in recent months but has 10 wins already this year and is in A grade form.
Nangar Rocket will be just the tenth Dennis Barnes runner to go around at Dapto since 2006
Tiggerlong Car (Box 7) is another having her first run at Dapto and would need to recapture her form from earlier in the year to feature.
While Cawbourne Magic (Box 8) gets his track (8: 4-2-2), his box (12: 6-1-2) and his chance to finally return to the winners circle. It’s a good setup for the Lord-trained son of Fernando Bale who has been mixing his form of late. Only the one win since April 2 but has been mixing it with Group calibre greyhounds more often than not and does own an electric 34.16 PB at Dapto.
Race 1 | Buck Tooth Rico (Box 6) – he’s got a bit of ability and he’s had two trials around Dapto to get ready for this. The six box won’t help and he hasn’t been around with other dogs before but I think he can run well.
Race 3 | Like Elle (Box 1) – she’s got Box 1 which will help and she can come out quickly. I’ve only hand slipped her at the track so I’ve got no times on her but she needs to lead to win and I think she could get into the low 17’s if she leads for the 297m.
Race 5 | Sirius Cuddles (Box 5 and pictured below) – she goes alright but she’s got the five box which makes it hard. In saying that, she uses a bit of the track around the first turn so as long as nothing comes down on her, she can be near the front. I think she either needs to lead or be on the outside of the leader through the bend to win and she can probably run 30.20 at her best.
Race 6 | Where’s Kenny (Box 5) – he’s got a lot of pace and I expect him to be near the lead but he’s not the strongest dog. His first and second sections trialling at Dapto have been good, but his run home times are ordinary. He has gone 30.35 for the 520m with a first section of 5.33 but this will be his first go over 520m in a race.
Race 7 | Alpha Miss (Box 7) – she has to lead to win for sure. She has trialled 34.80 on her own but she’s more like a 35.1 or 35.2 dog in a field. I think Andy Lord’s dogs will be hardest to beat.
Best Chance | I would put my money on Buck Tooth Rico. He’s got to do it in a field but I think he can go alright.
