When Lanitza-based trainer Daryl Bates passed away suddenly and unexpectedly last year at just 64, he left behind a litter of pups he’d help rear with good mate Chris Field.

The group of nine – which includes boom youngster and potential Sandown Shootout finalist Field Day - were still a way away from the racetrack at the time.

But fast forward to today and collectively they own 69 race wins from just 166 starts, with the aptly named Dad’s Last Run now looming as one to beat in the Ladbrokes Casino Cup series beginning on Thursday.

“When I bred the second litter out of Magical Mia, I was going to buy a property at Lanitza (just outside Grafton) to rear them. It fell through but Daryl Bates lived across the road from the place I was looking at and he said I could rear the litters there,” Field said.

“So we built the runs and got everything ready and towards the end of 2023, Daryl sadly passed away. Before he died, I let him choose a bitch and a dog to race out of the litter, so his three kids picked the names Dad’s Last Run and Dad’s Dream and left with them me to train.”

The pair racing exclusively in the north of the state so far and honouring the late Bates with a combined 21 victories in just 43 starts at Grafton and Casino.

Field taking a live chance into each of the three heats after also nominating track specialist and reigning Casino Beef Week Cup winner Masani Girl, as well as speedy litter sister Movie Girl.

“Dad’s Last Run trialled alright there last week and even though she runs into Magistrate, who is a star, she’s the best chance of my three,” Field added.

“Masani Girl has drawn the good one of Melissa Arandale’s [Teresita] but she likes Casino. We gave her a run last Thursday after the race and she went 27.26 and Teresita went 27.16. It’s got a fair bit of early pace as well so if it comes out and leads, we can’t beat it. I know she’s got a good record there, I just don’t like the one box at Casino.”

“And Movie Girl is boxed where she wants to be out wide there. She doesn’t have the same record as her sister at the track but her Box 7 record is handy [13: 7-3-1]. Party Mode looks the toughest to beat in that heat, he won in quick time last week and has been trialling well too.”

“They’re all racing well but they need to come out and lead at Casino because it’s a leaders track. If you get trapped wide, it’s always hard to pass the inside dogs and if you miss it, you’re buried away on the fence.”

The 73-year-old enjoying a massive year on the track with 80 winners so far at a strike rate of 42%. 

To put that in perspective, Field is winning/runner as often or more than leading NSW mentors Jason Magri (39%), Peter Lagogiane (42%), Minnie Finn (21%) and Jodie Lord (28%).

So what’s his secret?

“I’ve always had a pretty good line and I don’t go to the races unless I think I’ve got a good chance,” he stated.

“I also don’t race that much as I’ve been more of a muscle man over the years than a trainer. These last two litters are the only ones I’ve bred in the last 20 years and that’ll do for me.”

“I ended up giving the mother of Masani Girl and Dad’s Last Run [Magical Mia] to young Holly Taylor [Karen Ulrick’s daughter] to breed with. She used to come up to our place with Ronnie Ulrick all the time and one day I asked her what was going to do when she leaves school?”

“She said she wanted to be a dog trainer and I said the only way you’re going to be successful is by having a good brood bitch. So she’s got Magical Mia now and they’ve just had the most magnificent looking pups by Jungle Deuce. You won’t get better looking animals so I hope they can run as well.”

The Ladbrokes Casino Cup heats are on this Thursday, with the Group 3 final worth $25,000 to be run on Friday, November 22.