Dapto will host five sensational heats of the last ever edition of the Ladbrokes Dapto Megastar on Thursday.

Here’s who we think will take out each preliminary…

Sooty Keeping (2) is back from her luckless performance in the Group 1 National Sprint final at The Q and drawn perfectly to atone in her first start at Dapto. That’s the natural query but she’s a well-travelled greyhound and arguably the best bitch in NSW. Isn’t bulletproof out of the boxes but at her best, she can hold them out into the first bend and advance to her ninth Group final this year. Canya Sapphire (5) is boxed well in the middle of the track and won well in her first look at Dapto a week ago. She ran 29.75 on that occasion with a 5.36 first section, so a repeat of that sort of effort will make her hardest to beat. Delicate (7) returns to NSW with big wraps but she’s drawn outside the three main speed influences in the race in Boxes 4, 5 and 6. She’s already a Group 1 Maturity finalist after beginning her career here in the Maitland Future Stars Maiden. More than a travel companion for Good Odds Cobber. And Rose Marie (6) is building a nice record [23: 11-7-2] off the back of great early pace. She won a heat of the Mid North Coast Cup and has already qualified for the MDC semi-finals.

2. Sooty Keeping $3 - Ladbrokes

5. Canya Sapphire $4.40

7. Delicate $2.45

6. Rosa Marie $7.50

Taormina (4) is in the conversation with Sooty Keeping as the best female greyhound in the state. Barely put a paw wrong over the last few months, with her only defeat in her last nine races coming to ‘Sooty’ at Wenty Park in August. She made her Dapto debut last week - winning by six lengths - and went within half a length of the track record in 29.38 (replay below). Drawn to lead again here and has been set for this race. Eriza Sparkles (5) burst onto the scene in July with a 29.48 win at Wentworth Park in the Peter Mosman Opal heats. She’s since been to QLD where she won three straight races and returned to NSW in the Taormina race seven days ago. Had a terrible draw and got pushed wide through the first bend, eventually finishing fourth in 29.86. Can follow the favourite through. Coast Rig (3) won the Group 1 Peter Mosman Opal for Trish Chaker before also making the Mid North Coast decider at Taree. Won’t be able to match the two outside her but has to be in the mix. And Allan Keeping (2) comes through the Maitland MDC final where he finished sixth behind Badger’s Beast. He’s never lost in three attempts out of Box 2.

4. Taormina $1.70 - Ladbrokes

5. Eriza Sparkles $4.20

3. Coast Rig $10

2. Allan Keeping $6.50

Ayden’s Warrior (1) has a love affair with Dapto. In seven starts at the track (albeit all over 600m), he’s had five wins and two seconds. Couple that with the fact he’s got a handy record from the red draw (5:3-1-0 out of Box 1) and he looks well placed to claim another win for connections. Country Classic finalist earlier this year over the middle distance so his opponents won’t want him on their tail. Hotel Whisky One (3) is no stranger to NSW feature racing with the Ant Azzopardi-trained runner winning the 2024 Goulburn Cup in track record time. He should lead this field from Box 3 and he’s currently riding a three-win streak. No 500m starts since February makes it interesting. Smooth Plane (7) is one of the best credentialled dogs in the series with 26 wins and more than $560,000 in prizemoney. He’s a hard-nosed chaser who loves wide draws (11:7-3-1 from Box 7) and even though he’s 3.5 now, he’s right in this. And Intrepid Eagle (2) could be a rising star. He’s only had nine career starts for five wins but now faces a massive rise in grade. He made the Gosford Goldmine Final last month and ran 29.29 at Nowra just over a week ago. 

1. Ayden’s Warrior $2.60 - Ladbrokes

3. Hotel Whisky One $2.40

7. Smooth Plane $4.20

2. Intrepid Eagle $10

Speedy Pie (2) on top in the hardest heat to work out. There is so much early pace in this contest and for that reason, we’ve taken the greyhound most likely to lead. Speedy Pie was neck and neck with Taormina a week ago to the first bend at Dapto and a repeat of that 5.40 first section should see her in front through the catching pen. She’s been in big races up to her ears so far this year but just seems to find one better. A front-running track like Dapto should suit her. If Jungle Johnny (3) is anywhere near his best from earlier in 2025, he will probably win. In saying that, he hasn’t raced since hurting himself at The Q in June so he might take a week or two to recapture his Country Classic winning form. Will want to see the speed battle unfold in front of him and should be able to land near the fence at some stage up the back. Lakeview Emily (6) is arguably the most reliable beginner in the country…and she will need to be if she’s going to cross this field. We’ve already mentioned Speedy Pie, Overflow Jill (5) can go like the clappers, Gets Late Early (4) will push up the track, and Skedaddle Arlo out in Box 8 is also quick to the first mark. Hold on to your hats. And Gets Late Early (4) goes in due to her reliability and being a finalist in this event 12-months ago. Will get off the fence through the first bend but is a 100-start veteran.

2. Speedy Pie $5.50 Ladbrokes

3. Jungle Johnny $3

6. Lakeview Emily $2.50

4. Gets Late Early $5.50

Good Odds Cobber (1) has been dealt a great hand after pulling Box 1 in what looks like the weakest heat on paper. The defending champion hasn’t been seen in a race since June 26 and he’s since transferred kennels from Frank Hurst to Jason Thompson. You’ve got to think he’s ready to go and in a dozen starts from the inside draw, he’s won nine and finished second twice. He’s the best bet of the night. Destroying (8) has been earmarked by the kennel as a dog to watch for a few months now and he’s backed that up with Group 1 final appearances in the Flying Amy and Vic Peters Classic. Wound up with a 29.50 win at Wenty Par over the weekend but tricky draw. Dynamic Drummer (6) will be the best local hope in the series with Ruth King helping this bloke to a 29.49 win at Dapto three weeks ago. Mixes his form from the boxes but will be strong late after plenty of middle distance starts. And Trunkey Chief (5) loves Dapto (five wins from 10 starts) and the yellow rug (five wins from seven starts. Could bob up late.

1. Good Odds Cobber $1.70 - Ladbrokes

8. Destroying $4.40

6. Dynamic Drummer $10

5. Trunkey Chief $14

The winner of each heat, as well as the three fastest second placed runners, will advance to next week’s $75,000 Ladbrokes Dapto Megastar final which will mark the end of racing at the famous South Coast circuit.