A 12-race program – with starts at 297m, 520m and 600m - kicks off at 6:58pm on Thursday, November 23 at Dapto.
The Ladbrokes Middle Distance Championship final highlights the card. Here’s our preview of a big night of chasing.
LADBROKES BEST BET
R6 - #4 August Bob
Was a red-hot favourite here two weeks ago but the meeting was abandoned so Steve Fitch took the opportunity to travel August Bob to The Meadows where he ran 30.37 in his first look at the track.
The camp has an eye on some of the big age-restricted features in Melbourne soon so with the benefit of a trip away under his belt, interested to see how he returns to NSW.
Runs into one of the tougher fifth grade races you’ll see around this week with Ultra Sense runner-up Oro Rojo (Dapto best of 29.93) and Paua Of Abby (Dapto best of 29.95) engaged, as well as decent youngsters Lochinvar Pearl (14: 5-2-3) and Trunkey Chief (30.18 in track debut last week).
But August Bob has produced runs of 29.61 and 29.66 over the Dapto 520m recently, and with eight wins from 14 starts to begin his career, he looks more than promising.
The son of Fernando Bale x Gold Azalea has started his career in nice fashion with four wins in his first seven starts for Patrick Mulrine.
He’s currently riding a two-win streak with both those victories coming over 350m at Goulburn, the first in a handy time of 19.82.
Has been a reliable beginner in his short career to date and his starting price has been single figures for each of his seven outings.
First look in race conditions at Dapto but should be aided by the Box 2 draw in a field that has not shown a great deal of pace so far. The job has been made a little easier with the scratching of main rival Little Hyped as well.
LADBROKES MIDDLE DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL PREVIEW
To fill a void in middle distance racing, GRNSW introduced the Dapto Middle Distance Championship in 2019. The race, with its $25,000 prizemoney, was won last year by Cawbourne Magic for Andy Lord.
One Hot Bandit (1) – just stepped half a length behind them in the heats but quickly found a nice spot on the rail and powered home to finish two lengths in arrears of Father Rick. The time of 34.17 was almost identical to what he trialled before the preliminaries so third up on Thursday night, you would expect he could find a length or two with clear running room. The camp has always liked him drawn out wide but Andy Lord said during the week Box 1 might suit him better at Dapto, and if he improves out of the lids, he could find himself right on the hammer of the early leaders. The tight turning Dapto circuit tends to favour dogs on speed but if he’s close enough when they go past the 600m boxes on the way home, he is more than good enough.
Father Rick (2) – wound back the clock so-to-speak seven days ago with a phenomenal PB run of 34.03 (replay below) that was just half a length off Bandit Jane’s track record. At first glance, the Box 2 draw should favour him if he begins like he did in the heats, but Ray Webster has said he tends to favour wide draws with his near four-year-old. Most of the speed in the race is drawn wide in the form of Punter’s Bandit and Lady Stomp, so on a bend start, he could be out and away from them by the time they hit the catching pen. Knows the track inside out with 10 starts producing three wins and three placings but the query is, can the oldest dog in the race back up a career peak to outgun a field of handy chasers? Doesn’t want One Hot Bandit on his hammer up the back.
Energizer Miss (3) – veteran of 94 starts and although she has never pulled off a big feature race win, she’s as honest as the day is long. Has 20 race victories and has had 20 goes over the 600m at Dapto so there’s no question she will handle the contest, but does she lack the X-factor needed to win this race? A PB of 34.42 suggests she will need luck to feature but she’ll be finishing the race off well and will be there to pounce if things go awry for the favourites.
Sandstorm Rico (4) – reliable beginner who ran a good race in the heats. That 34.24 effort was a career best mark but Box 4 in the final makes life much more difficult. The two race favourites jump from Boxes 1 and 2 and Cumbria Kid (Box 5) will be making a beeline to the fence as well so who knows where Sandstorm Rico ends up early. The kennel has enjoyed a massive 2023 so it would not surprise if he runs into the frame., but you’ll know your fate in the first 20 metres.
Cumbria Kid (5) – Box 5 makes it so tough but he has been racing in fine form. His second in the MDC final was remarkable and he’s had three runs over the Dapto 600m since for a win and two thirds. The times though - 34.67, 34.71 and 34.72 - won’t be good enough to take this out so he’ll need to find a few lengths at least. Only hope is if he leads them up, and with a stack of early pace littered throughout the race, just think this is a bridge too far.
We Don’t Share (6) – another who probably needs to be out on the arm early if he’s a serious hope of winning. Very consistent chaser who has earned 21 cheques in 29 starts but could only manage a 34.84 run in the heats. Only had the two career starts over 600m though so may have a bit more upside than a few in the race, but with a track and trip PB of 34.66, he will probably need to find several lengths. Will be copping heat from both sides as soon as the lids fly but does have a decent record from wider draws.
Punter’s Bandit (7) – one of three bitches in the race and does have a class edge on most in the final field. Fifth in this race last year behind Cawbourne Magic from the same draw before running fourth in the G1 Dapto Megastar and does tend to go pretty well at Dapto. Heat winner last week from Box 8 in a time of 34.35 (replay below) despite trailing kennelmate in Lady Stomp through the pen, but she may find a similar run into the race this week. Think she is the forgotten greyhound in some circles and is the biggest threat to One Hot Bandit and Father Rick provided she gets even luck.
Lady Stomp (8) – brings good early pace to the race but has to burn across from the wide draw if she’s to be a genuine hope which is made more difficult on the bend start. Record from the pink isn’t good (7: 0-1-0) but does love the Dapto 600m (13: 4-4-2) so has to be respected on those numbers alone. If she doesn’t jump like she did last week, her chances go out the window, but if she can somehow get around them, she will be bold out in front for a while. Think she’ll find it too tough.
