It’d be a brave punter to tip against the hometown hero who is in super form. Sooty Keeping returns to Dubbo with the Nowra Puppy Classic title in her possession and even broke Wow’s track record in the heats (before Jungle Johnny improved the mark on the same night). She’s a prohibitive favourite for Heat 1 and deservedly so if you look at her red box (undefeated in five attempts) and Dubbo stats (6: 5-1-0). If there was one chink in her armour though, it’s her first few strides out of the boxes and she can’t afford to dwell too long with speed coming from wider out.
Best Value | Miss Zig Zag | $8.50
She had a crack at this race last year and ran 29.56 in a heat behind Bella Una. Since then she’s gone to another level though with appearances in finals of the Chief Havoc Cup, Gosford Gold Cup, Richmond Oaks and recent Ladies Bracelet. She’s begun pretty well in her last two starts at Wenty Park (5.40 and 5.47) and she’ll enjoy being boxed closer to the fence. Her only chance in the race is to cross Sooty Keeping in the run to the first turn and hold the lead from the aptly named Speedy Pie as well.
Hasn’t raced since finishing fifth in the Ultra Sense final behind Vista Yttrium last month but he’s already an 11-time winner from just 19 starts. Has enjoyed a pretty successful year so far without taking out a big one. He was the favourite for the Group 1 National Derby in January but ran fourth behind Paw Oswald, before coming eighth in the Temora Cup final which was won by Good Odds Cobber. He gets Box 1 in this heat and with early speed in Box 2 (Let’s Go Legend) and a wide runner in Box 4 (Gets Late Early), he could get the run of the race.
Best Value | Let’s Go Legend | $8.50
Doesn’t have the resume of some in the field but he does go quick early and Dubbo tend to favour dogs on pace. He returned to the track in March after three months off and Gary Mitchell hasn’t stepped him out over further than 457m yet this campaign. He has won four times over the 525m at Wagga Wagga (albeit in average time) so if he can lead through the catching pen, he could pinch a break on them up the back. Hit the long strongly in his last start second over 400m at Wagga but natural question mark over the step up in trip.
Lightly raced three-year-old who was last seen on the tail of Sooty Keeping in the Nowra Puppy Classic final two weekends ago. That runner-up finish halted a three-win streak for the Vic Sultana-trained runner who is already a 14-time winner in 22 starts. Made an appearance in the Simply Limelight final in March and even though he’s yet to race at Dawson Park and cops a wide draw, he should get a great cart into the race on the back of speedy types Overflow Jill (Box 5) and Canya Sapphire (Box 6).
Best Value | Chuck Keeping | $6.50
Has the benefit of being schooled at Dubbo and his record at track and trip (7:4-1-0) suggests he likes the place. Hard to know where he’s at though considering he’s only had the two race starts so far in 2025, and only one in the last two months. Won stylishly in 29.59 off the red last week and although the kennel believe he’s the fastest dog in their team, he has been known to mix his form. Made his debut in the Bill & Peg Miller this time last year so it would be a nice story if he could return in the Brother Fox a year later and make the final.
What’s not to like about the way Robert Keeping has begun his chasing career? 14 starts for nine wins including his last five straight at Wentworth Park, Bulli and Maitland and Jason Magri has him humming. Registered a low mark of 29.39 at Wenty a few weeks ago and now he turns his attention to Dubbo. He’s owned by Charmaine Roberts and Shayne Stiff so it’ll be no surprise if he handles the Central West circuit with ease, and as long as he can get out ahead of Kangaroo Jack (Box 3), he is the one I want to follow through the series and beyond.
Best Value | Kangaroo Jack | $9.50
The most experienced dog in the series will have start number 90 on Saturday night and he’s a chaser in form after winning the Bob Payne Sprint at big odds at Wentworth Park last weekend. He also made the Ultra Sense final at Wenty in April and finished third to Jungle Johnny in the Country Classic at Dubbo back in March. He’ll jump from Box 3 and with a dog outside him who likes using a bit of the track (Both Bowers Ace), combined with the hot recent form, double figures seems very generous.
Beau might be back! A third-placing in the Bob Payne Sprint last weekend capped off seven straight runs since a six month break over the Christmas period and Craig Chappelow returns to Dubbo to try and defend the title he won last year. ‘Beau’ finally draws a box to help his cause too after copping Box 5 last weekend and six straight Box 8 appearances before that. He’s got great early pace at his best and although he’s not pinging the lids like he was 12-months ago, he should get a great run to the firs bend alongside Chief Lightning (Box 3). It’s already a seven-dog field and with form and fitness question marks looming over a few of the fancied types, I think can Overflow Beau can qualify for another big feature final.
Best Value | Chief Lightning | $3.80
Tough to find a lot of value with the top four in the market all sub-$4 but Chief Lightning has the most upside despite not racing since the Golden Easter Egg semi-final a month ago. Has led and been run down in the Maitland Cup, Gosford Cup and the Bulli Cup in the last six months so considering Dubbo’s on pace nature, he could get out in front and hold on. Also ran second in the Richmond Derby final in February so has been in and around the finish in good races all year long…this should be no different.
The heats of the 2025 Ladbrokes Brother Fox commence in Race 7 on Saturday night’s program at Dawson Park in Dubbo. The winner of each heat, as well as the three fastest runners-up will advance to next weekend's final.
