Dapto will host the last ever edition of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Dapto Megastar this Thursday night.

Here’s our runner-by-runner preview of the $75,000 final…

Delicate | Jason Thompson | Ladbrokes $3.80

The daughter of Group 1 placegetter Plaintiff was pretty good in the heats, leading them through the catching pen before being overrun by the best race bitch in NSW in Sooty Keeping. 

That was her first start at Dapto so you’d imagine she could improve on her time of 29.78. A repeat of her first section of 5.48 will put her right in the thick of things and her record from Box 1 is almost perfect (5: 4-1-0). 

Still lightly raced but was a Group 1 finalist in the Maturity four starts back, has run 29.17 at Sandown and has the Thompson kennel polish. 

Dynamic Drummer | Ruth King | Ladbrokes $11

This would be a fairytale result for the locals with Ruth King one of Dapto’s finest over the years. 

Dynamic Drummer emerged as a serious contender for this race with a slashing 29.49 win at the track and trip three starts back and he flew home to run second to Good Odds Cobber in last week’s heats. 

He will probably be last after the first 100m in Thursday’s final but with superior speed to his inside and out, he could get a cushy run in behind the leaders from Box 2. Has more 520m starts at Dapto than the rest of the field combined so knows the place inside and out and will be running on late.

Hotel Whisky One | Anthony Azzopardi | Ladbrokes $6

Oldest dog in the race but also the quickest early. He scorched his way to a 5.33 first section in a dominant heat win, and despite his overall time being only moderate (29.83), he should take a stack of improvement out of that effort. 

It was his first 500m start since returning from a five-month injury layoff in July and the final appearance will be his third look at the track. We also know Dapto favours on pace greyhounds so it’ll take something special to lead him from Box 3. 

He was brilliant in winning the Goulburn Cup series last year for Ant Azzopardi and although he might be better on a one turn track, he could be in front of this field for a long way.

Good Odds Cobber | Jason Thompson | Ladbrokes $2.90                    

The defending champion is aiming to become the first dog in the race’s history win back-to-back Megastar titles…and he’s currently the favourite to do so.

Botched the start last week from Box 1 but was still good/lucky enough to get a run on the fence through the first bend and once he landed on the back of Glorified, it was all over. He still managed to run 29.60 despite a 5.53 first section and that was his first outing since June 25.

‘The Cobber’ also changed kennels in that period and despite still being owned by the Hurst family, the heat win was his first start for Jason Thompson. Connections will be hoping he gets a great tow into the race on the back of the likely leader in Hotel Whisky One and if he does park on his tail, he’s the stronger dog over 520m. Won last year’s final in 29.44.

An unexpected error occurred.

Sooty Keeping | Shayne Stiff | Ladbrokes $4.40

Her heat win was the performance of the night in my book. Bombed the getaway from Box 2 but still somehow managed to duck to the outside and loop the field as they flew through the first bend.

From there, she was brilliant down the back and finished off nicely to record a 1.75 length win over Delicate in 29.65.

Sooty Keeping was having her first look at the track on heat night so that might explain the poor getaway, and it’d be no surprise if she improved a length of two this time around. She’s already won three Group titles in 2025 but she’ll have to overcome a Box 5 hoodoo in this race with no dog winning the Megastar (or making the podium) in a decade from the yellow.

Coast Rig | Patricia Chaker | Ladbrokes $16

Continues her excellent back half of 2025 with another Group-level final for Trish Chaker and its thoroughly deserved following the 29.79 heat effort.

She won the G1 Peter Mosman Opal in July (Ereza Sparkles was also in that race) before qualifying for the Mid North Coast Cup decider at Taree in August. Now she qualifies for an open-age Group 1 feature and although she has great early speed, she’s up against it in a field of this quality.

Will be right in the firing line through the catching pen if she can produce another 5.35 first section but there looks to be too much pressure coming from underneath and out wide for a dog of her slight stature (25.1kg) to punch through without interference.

Eriza Sparkles | Stephen Fitch | Ladbrokes $9

She’s the baby of the field but gee she’s got some ability. Was brilliant in winning her heat in 29.52 (fastest qualifier) and did it after riding a bump and then bullocking her way past Taormina in the run to the first bend.

She’s only had 11 race starts but already has seven wins and has only missed the money in the aforementioned G1 Peter Mosman Opal (7th) and Silver Collar final (4th).

It’s a tricky map for her from Box 7 as well with Coast Rig and Skedaddle Arlo (Box 8) both capable of flying early.

Either way, this girl has a big future and isn’t Steve Fitch enjoying a purple patch of form. The Nowra-local now finds himself in a Dapto Megastar final, just weeks after claiming the Group 1 National Sprint title with Cumbria Jack.

Skedaddle Arlo | Mark Suttle | Ladbrokes $15

Another South Coast local enjoying a purple patch is Skeddadle Arlo. He went within a whisker of taking out the Bidgee Cup for Mark Suttle two weeks ago and arrives in the Megastar final having won four of his last six starts.

He’s drawn Box 8 in the final but he has done a lot of racing off wide draws in the last month, and to be honest, I think it suits him considering it can take him a step to get going out of the lids.

Won his heat in 29.76 off the back of a 5.38 first split and if the rest of the field jam up through the first bend, there is a world where Skedaddle Arlo stays out of trouble and loops his way to the front. This would be an emotional victory after Mark’s health battles in recent times.

4. Good Odds Cobber

5. Sooty Keeping

1. Delicate

2. Dynamic Drummer

A monstrous 12-race card will kick off at Dapto on Thursday night at 7:07pm with the Ladbrokes Dapto Megastar slated for a 9:40pm start.