With Wentworth Park’s return to racing on Wednesday night, the best stayers in NSW – which had been plying their craft at Dapto – are otherwise occupied yet their absence has not lowered the tone at Dapto on Thursday.
The GRNSW Middle Distance series has offered terrific prize money at regional venues for more than 12 months and some new names have emerged in recent weeks.
Thursday’s middle distance edition (Race Seven) is a competitive affair in which varying form lines converge.
John Finn’s Zipping Panama heads back to Dapto for the first time since April (when a maiden) and he’s showing outstanding staying promise.
At his most recent outing on September 25 at The Gardens, he was quickly into stride from box seven and dominant in a smart 34.46 win at his first look at the Newcastle circuit.
Seasoned with four middle distance outings, the brindle dog appears headed for higher honours in the staying ranks yet, from box seven at Dapto, he will need to be on his mettle to score.
From box two, Wicked Flash will get his chance. After a slow start from box eight, he battled very gamely when 1 ¾ lengths third to the smart Chase Me Honey at the Showgrounds track on September 9.
The outing was his first at 600m and, no doubt, there is scope for improvement.
Mack Boy (box three) has performed very creditably over 472m at Bulli this month and is well positioned near the inside. And then there is Ritza Rain.
She posted back-to-back 535m wins at Richmond last month, her personal best a slick 30.45 all-the-way effort when able to quickly take control from box four on August 25.
The Sydney Cup has come too soon for some at Dapto on Thursday yet, by year’s end, don’t be surprised if the likes of Zipping Panama, Wicked Flash, Mack Boy et al will be making an impression in black type events.
The first of 12 races at Dapto gets underway at 6.58pm.
