Four cracking heats of the Ladbrokes Dapto Megastar highlight a 12-race program at the famous South Coast circuit on Thursday, August 31 with all the chasing action kicking off at 6:57pm. Here’s our preview of the card, beginning with the Megastar heats.
Highly touted youngster One Hot Bandit (1) will make his Group 1 debut in the heats of the Megastar and he arrives at Dapto on the back of two slashing wins at Wentworth Park in times of 29.59 and 29.73. Yet to race at the track but did trial last week in a scorching 29.42 so looks hard to beat out of Box 1. Mortified (4) makes her long awaited return to the track after four months out. She has been bulletproof at Dapto in the past (5: 4-1-0) and if she’s back to her best, a PB of 29.55 will put her right in the frame. Zipping Novak (5) hasn’t had a lot of luck in his last few runs but has the experience at Dapto (albeit over 600m) to offset the draw. While Shanghai Suzie (6) debuted on Megastar night last year so would complete a nice full circle moment if she was to salute. There is a stack of speed drawn underneath her so would need luck around the first bend and probably has to run sub-30 seconds to advance.
Gee Leg Speed (5) has been impressive at Dapto in his short career. Three starts for three blistering wins by a combined margin of more than 35 lengths. What has he beaten? Not much I guess, but the clock has backed up the eye as well with times of 29.37, 29.62 and 29.64 and he’s in a camp that knows how to win this race. Modern Swinger (6) is probably the best dog in the race and he just had no clear passage in the National Sprint Final at The Meadows over the weekend. The camp believe he’s in good order and his last win at Dapto was over a greyhound named She’s A Pearl. Big chance if he lands near the speed. Umberto (8) brings decent Victorian form lines which are always hard to match up but Jason Thompson wouldn’t be bringing these dogs up for a haircut. Visitors draw but is in form with four wins from his last five. And Rockstar Apollo (7) is undefeated in two starts at the track but they both came late last year.
NSW National Sprint placegetter Screaming Jet (5) will be better for last week’s first look at the Dapto circuit and although he draws awkwardly in Box 5, has the ability to take this out with an easier ran than the one he endured seven days ago. Afire (8) comes off a winning effort in the 515m Speed Star match race series at Sandown where he ran 29.24 to outgun Adhana Rico. Trainer Jason Sharp makes a debut appearance at Dapto but will need luck from the wide draw. Remember This (6) is quietly building a nice record (31: 14-3-4) for Vic Sultana and set a new PB of 29.92 at Wenty Park last time out. While Cumbria Days has his alley and has raced well at the track in the past (12: 3-3-2 at Dapto).
Quantifiable (1) knuckled badly at box rise last week, costing herself any chance of winning, but still ran on OK to finish 3.5 lengths off eventual winner Energizer Miss in a time of 30.15. She draws perfectly to atone this week and if she can lead them through the catching pen, she will be hard to catch. 2023 Group 1 Peter Mosman Opal winner Nangar Lucy (3) is a rising star but will be having her first start at the track and is coming off the only two unplaced efforts of her career. From one PMO winner to another and Embrace (4) likes to use a bit of the track but has X-Factor and she has won two straight in town in good time (29.63 and 29.71). And Zippy Tesla (7) joins the Stiff kennel for a tilt at the Megastar after back-to-back victories at The Meadows. He is a G1 winner and has recent form around Postman Pat, Baby Jaycee and Captain Larry.
Quantifiable has a brilliant record at Dapto over the shorts. Can she extend her brilliance to 520m?
LADBROKES BEST BET ON THE CARD
R3 - #7 Lochinvar Hawk | Ruth King
The son of Fernando Bale x Sorry Scott is really well placed in the Tony Hardy Memorial 1-3 win 5th grade event after securing three wins in his first handful of starts.
All three victories have come at Wentworth Park and the Ruth King-trained chaser has stopped the clock between 30.02 and 30.22 on each occasion.
His only official look at the Dapto circuit came in July when he ran fourth behind Oscar Boaz (who is contesting the Megastar) in a time of 30.38. He did start favourite that day but was no hope at lid rise when the greyhound to his inside made a beeline for the outside fence.
Can improve on that with ease, and with the King kennel being Wollongong locals, you’d expect Lochinvar Hawk has seen the track on several occasions and could be capable of breaking the 30 second mark with clear air.
R1 - Skedaddle Duke (Box 2) – he’s had a lot of setbacks but he’s better boxed in this race. If he can jump, he can probably run 17.2.
Skedaddle Dozer (Box 4) – it will probably be his last go over the shorts because we think he’s a 500m dog. He’s had a few setbacks as well but he is the pick of the two in the maiden race.
R9 - Skedaddle Lucy (Box 3) – she jumped to the front about 10 times in a row but her last three, she hasn’t been jumping. Her obvious pattern is to lead, she needs to lead, and when she does, she can put a bit a gap on them. She’s won 15 races including some FFA races so she can run, but she’ll need to get back to her old ways and fly out. Any box will suit her if she jumps and she can go 5.30 to the first mark which will lead most races at Dapto.
R11 - Skedaddle Tommy (Box 3) – he’s coming back from a couple of weeks off. He was up over 500m and does have good ability so he’ll only go over the shorts because he’s nice and fresh. He’s a better 500m dog but could go 17.2 as well.
Best Chance | Skedaddle Lucy is the hardest to beat and she’s well graded to run a good race.
