Leading trainer Mark Gatt certainly knows what it takes for a promising sprinter to take the next step over a middle distance and beyond.
His Group 1 winner Stanley Road is a case in point. At start 10, Stanley Road made a winning middle distance debut at Richmond (618m) in October 2020 and his trajectory, thereafter, was steep.
At Dapto on Thursday, Gatt’s Ritza Skylar (pictured), at start seven, steps up to 600m for the first time and she will be at Winx-like odds to register win three.
A litter sister to G1 Dapto Megastar winner Ritza Donna, ‘Skylar’ is a daughter of the regally related Ritza Millie which won her only two starts at Dapto over 600m.
At her only Dapto outing on November 25, Ritza Skylar trailed leader Forever Thankful by .27 (or just on four lengths) with 150m to run yet rallied to score by a clear three panels in 29.77.
Her ‘run home’ time of 12.50 was elite and there’s no doubt the step to 600m suits. The only complication for punters is the awkward six alley.
While Ritza Skylar has an apparent lock on Race Three, the following event is open and intriguing.
Cowgirl Ethics (box two) drops in after contesting the Group 1 Megastar at the Showgrounds track on December 9, Ashby Rebel (one), the speedy Twisted Cuddles (five) while 2021 G1 National Futurity winner, Zipping Sapporo (six) will have strong support.
