For more than two months, David Smith’s Prim And Proper has battled valiantly against the likes of Group 1 Topgun Stayers’ aspirants Super Estrella and Miss Ezmae, talented kennelmate Ice Cream Story and the versatile Sound Of Silence to name but a few.
At Dapto on Thursday, the diminutive Prim And Proper tackles the 600m trip for the 13th time and win seven looms large.
The $5000 to-the-winner contest, on face value, appears easier than recent assignments yet Box 5 must be negotiated while Line Of Quality (Box 2) – despite being new to the Showgrounds circuit – will attract strong support.
Prim And Proper last stepped out (over 720m) at Wentworth Park on October 23 and finished sixth to Super Estrella in Free For All company in a smart 42.06s.
The drop back to 600m suits. It’s a distance she excels at and her personal best at Dapto is 34.21s – just .13s (less than two lengths) outside Opal Rocks’ record.
Early speed is Prim And Proper’s calling card yet back-end strength is Line Of Quality’s ace.
The lightly-raced son of Kinloch Brae has registered slick time at Maitland over 565m (31.66s) and holds the 630m record at Nowra (35.95s).
Though lacking early pace, Line Of Quality has a particularly slow beginner to his inside (Topper McGarrett) and his supporters will expect he can drop to the inside early.
An in-form Trouble At Mill (Box 3) and the talented Trunkey Rose (4) also have claims in an engaging contest.
One race later brilliant speedster Sizzle Fly steps out from box one over 297m and the track record is, seemingly, on borrowed time.
Sizzle Fly has won five from seven at Dapto over 297m including 16.68s – just .02s outside Typhoon Tim's mark and the son of Fernando Bale already holds the first section record at the distance.
