Greyhound racing returns to Dapto on Thursday with a solid 12-race card that includes a quartet of 5th Grade short-course heats. Read on to find out which chasers we are backing.
Race 1: Sportsbet Bet With Mates Maiden (297m)
This is a tricky race to assess, as we have five greyhounds making their debut – She’s Harlequin (box 2), Always Done (box 3), Forners Rose (box 5), More Scope (box 7) and Despicable Knows (box 8). From the raced brigade, the Randall Walter-trained Panda’s Buddy (box 1) looks the greyhound to beat. He wore the red rug last Thursday night and ran a good second behind Always Archie, clocking a respectable 17.31 seconds after showing good early speed. Ebby Rose (box 4) recorded a second-placing over this track and distance on February 24 from box five. Can handle middle draws and has shown some early speed in all five career starts. Forner’s Thorn (box 6) finished third when making his debut last Thursday night, in the same race as Panda’s Buddy, from box two. Tricky draw tonight but did show some early speed. Is a littermate to debutant Forners Rose.
This is our maiden event over the longer distance of 520m, with only one debutant – Lochinvar Cahill (box 3). Astute trainer Ruth King handles this son of Fernando Bale. Watch the betting and include if there is some money for this greyhound. Rocking The Ares (box 5) showed good early speed here last Thursday before being checked on the first turn from box two. Still managed to finish fourth. Has a tricky middle draw tonight but looks a winning chance. Fair Call (box 6) has finished in the placings three times from four starts over the Dapto 520m. May get a good run outside Rocking The Ares early in this race and fight the finish out. Drought Relief (box 1) is a slow beginner but does like to rail hard, so the red rug should suit him. Will give some of these greyhounds a big start, so looks only a place chance.
Race 3: Sportsbet Same Race Multi Heat 1, 5th Grade Series (297m)
This is the first of four 5th Grade heats of the Dapto short course tonight. The Rob Tyler-trained Lightning Zeal (box 2) might be the greyhound to beat in this heat. This son of Zambora Brockie has won four of his six career starts. Having his first look at Dapto tonight but is currently in winning form and can be a quick beginner. Wicked Jewel (box 3) should appreciate this low draw. Can show early speed and both of her two wins have been over this track and distance. Hardaway Ally (box 1) ran a close second to Wyangapinni at Dapto March 10 when wearing the red rug, clocking a fast 17.21 seconds. A repeat of the effort gives her a winning chance tonight. Witch Earner (box 7) would prefer an inside draw but has won twice from three starts over the Dapto 297m. Can be hit or miss at the start but must be in the winning mix if she pings the lids.
Race 4: Sportsbet Set A Deposit Limit Heat 2, 5th Grade Series (297m)
In this second heat, the inside drawn greyhounds have the key to this race. The Rodney Dennis-trained Baby Driver (box 4) might be the greyhound to beat. This son of Aston Dee Bee is making his Dapto debut tonight. Has won six of his 13 career starts. Can muster good early speed just after the start to offset this middle draw. The Troy Vella-trained Claddin’ Boys (box 1) wears the red rug in this heat and looks the obvious danger. Should get clear galloping room early and can hug the rail around the only bend here. Daniela’s Wish (box 2) should appreciate this low draw. Has won and been placed in both starts over the Dapto 297m. The Charlie Gatt-trained Sonata (box 3) has been luckless in her past three starts at Dapto. Likes inside draws but will need luck to be in the finish.
Race 5: Watch Live On Sportsbet Heat 3, 5th Grade Series (297m)
The Michael Clayton-trained Culpable Model (box 3) is currently in good winning form. This daughter of Fernando Bale has won her last two starts at Nowra clocking fast times from inside draws. Drawn inside again tonight, expect her to be hard to beat in this third heat. The Troy Vella-trained Tongue Tied (box 4) is also in good form, winning both of her last two starts at Dapto and clocking good fast times from box six on each occasion. Must be a winning chance. Coco Boomer (box 7) can ping the lids but likes to scout towards the middle of the track. In doing so, she allows other greyhounds to rail inside of her and beat her home. Only a place chance tonight. The Andrew Bell-trained Lenny Cortez (box 5) has a tricky middle draw tonight. Looks the next best greyhound in this heat but may only be a place chance. One for the minor end of trifectas and first fours.
This is the last of the four 5th Grade heats tonight. The Jacob White-trained Jagora Bale (box 1) looks the greyhound to beat, from this premier draw. Last time she wore the red rug at Dapto, she clocked a fast 17.06 seconds, winning by nearly five lengths. Reeling Dollars (box 3) won his debut start on the grass straight track at Richmond on April 13 from box six. This son of Zambora Brockie began well and won by nearly four lengths. Must be a winning chance on that run. Always Archie (box 8) was a good maiden winner here last Thursday night, clocking a good 17.18 seconds from box four. Should get good clear galloping room out wide and be other winning chance. Xerxes Bale (box 6) bombed the start last Thursday from box seven. From this tricky draw, he only looks a place chance tonight. Kuro Warrior (box 7) could be another greyhound with a place chance tonight.
The Judith Richardson-trained Butterfly Angel (box 4) was a great win last Thursday night, clocking a fast 29.96 seconds from box six. That was only her second look at Dapto, and she could get a good run early from this middle draw. The Clifford Bell-trained Lightning Star (box 5) has a good record over the Dapto 520m, winning four from eight starts and placing twice. Beat Start Packing and Butterfly Angel at her last Dapto start from box eight. Looks a winning chance if settles outside Butterfly Angel early. Rumble Ranger (box 2) is making his Dapto debut tonight. He comes here with good Bulli form over the 400m and has won over 520m at Ipswich in a good time. Could be the knockout greyhound in this race. Burn (box 8) has won both of his starts over this track and distance from middle and inside draws. Would prefer an inside draw but is a winning chance if breaks go his way.
Race 8: GRNSW Middle Distance Series 5th Grade (600m)
This is another race in the GRNSW Middle Distance Series – a great concept to get greyhounds to run over the 600m distance. Ultra Impressive (box 1) looks the greyhound to beat here. This son of Collision has won three of his four career starts. He lived up to his namesake last start at Nowra on April 11 over 630m, winning from box three. That was his first run over the middle distance. Expect him to lead all the way tonight. Mark Bell is a chance of getting the quinella in this race with Don’t Sue Me (box 7). She is also from super sire Collision and won her only start over the middle distance at Gosford on April 5 from box three. Would prefer an inside draw but must be in the mix. Astute trainer Andrew Bell steps Agera (box 5) up to the middle distance for the first time tonight. This daughter of Barcia Bale has enough early pace to go forward early and offset her middle draw. May run out this middle distance. It’s A Moment (box 2) ran a distant second behind Irrational here last Thursday over 600m at huge odds from box three. Did beat home Miss Wanted on that occasion, so could be a place chance again tonight.
Race 9: Ryan’s Cleaning Service Free For All (520m)
This is tonight’s Free For All over the Dapto 520m. The Frank Hurst-trained Sound Of Silence (box 2) looks the greyhound to beat. He was luckless when a beaten odds-on favourite in the Million Dollar Chase Regional Final here last Thursday night from box one. Should lob second behind Soul To Squeeze early and get his chance to run him down tonight. Soul To Squeeze (box 1) won the MDC Regional Final at Dapto from box six. Should lead this field tonight and be the greyhound to run down. Asiram (box 3) should get a good inside run around the first turn behind Soul To Squeeze and Sound Of Silence and looks a good trifecta chance. Taw General (box 6) has a tricky draw tonight. Was luckless and chopped out when going for an inside run in the final last Thursday. Hard to see him winning tonight but must be a good place chance for exotic players. Hibiscus Moon (box 7) is currently in good form and should also be considered when taking trifectas and first fours.
Race 10: Dapto Citizens Bowling Club 5th Grade (520m)
Firey Flash (box 3) was an impressive winner of his maiden race here last Thursday night, clocking 30.02 seconds from box eight. A repeat of that effort would win this 5th Grade race. Will need to miss Lucky Ethics (box 2) early as she likes to step right soon after the start. Saniyah Bale (box 4) is not a quick beginner but does like to rail hard. Has been placed three times from four attempts over this track and distance, without winning. Looks a good place chance and one for the exotics. Lucky Ethics has only won once from 18 starts but placed on six occasions. Looks a place chance only again. Ameena’s Odyssey (box 8) can show early pace but struggles to run out the Dapto 520m. Minor place chance at best. Charlm Machine (number 9) is the first emergency but could be a winning chance if she gets a start tonight.
Back to the short-course races again. Call Me Senorita (box 3) might be the greyhound to beat tonight. From this low draw, she should be able to lead or lob outside Cartwheel (box 2) early in the race. If so, looks hard to beat. The Chris O’Brien-trained Cartwheel looks one of the dangers. This son of Fernando Bale has good early speed and he likes inside draws. Must be included in the winning chances here. The Chris Hope-trained Teskey (box 7) may be the other winning chance. She can show good early speed and has won over this track and distance from the same box draw clocking a fast 17.15 seconds. Simon Rhodes has three starters in this race – Enicka Bale (box 1), Oamaru Bale (box 4) and Vianna Bale (box 6). Enicka Bale might be his best chance from her great draw tonight.
A good race with lots of winning chances to round off a good night of greyhound racing. Peter Ray has freshened up Wicked Fury (box 2). Has not raced since March 28 when finishing unplaced at Nowra. Likes inside draws and has never been unplaced over this track and distance. Must be a winning chance. The Simon Rhodes-trained Nixon Bale (box 6) looks his best winning chance in this race. Tricky draw has been offset with a vacant box inside him tonight, so should get good early galloping room. The Frank Hurst-trained Good Odds Buzz (box 7) made a winning debut at Dapto last Thursday beating the speedy Sizzle Fly from box three. A repeat of that effort would see him winning again. Other winning chance looks to be the Andrew Bell-trained General Cortez (box 8). This greyhound should appreciate the wide draw tonight as he likes to wind up soon after the start. Maybe a good race to take a box trifecta.