Paul and Pamela Braddon are poised to claim another Dawson Park feature event after a kind draw for Friday night’s $5000 Dubbo Regional Mayor’s Cup (516m).
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The Cowra-based training team has won a countless amount of races at the Dubbo track in the past and on Friday night they will have Metallic Flash going from box one in the latest feature event.
The two-year-old stayer has won his last three races and four of his last five and is certain to jump as favourite during Friday night’s Christmas meeting.
His most recent win came in last week’s prelude event, beating home a number of dogs he’ll face again this time out.
“The draw has been very good to Metallic Flash,” Stiff said, Braddon’s hope expected to get a clear run from box one.
“He’s going for four in a row and looks very, very hard to beat and there’s no real speed in boxes two, three, or four and box five is empty.”
The other main threats in the race will come from the outside, with Dennis Barnes’ Nangar Gift drawing box six and the Charmaine Roberts-trained Cliff Keeping will go from box eight.
While there is no genuine speed next to Metallic Flash, the dog going from box two remains a wily contender.
The Raymond Smith-trained Big Daddy Bee is a former Group 1 winner and victory on Friday night would take his earnings past the $170,000 mark.
“He’s been a great campaigner and hasn’t gone from the inside in a little while,” Stiff said.
“He was good last week and he could sit on the tail of Metallic Flash and be a threat.
“The red (Metallic Flash) has still got to do everything right. But he’ll be odds-on favourite and hard to beat.”
While the Mayor’s Cup is the main event on the night, Stiff is also excited by the field attracted for the Zipping Flex at Stud Stakes (516m).
A number of hugely promising up-and-comers will be on show in that race, namely Smith’s Feral Franky, Roberts’ Gai Keeping and Jingles Keeping, and the Peter Carr-trained Jimmy Casey.
Regardless of where each of those four finish it is expected they will be back racing on Sydney tracks sooner rather than later.
As well as the action on the track there will be plenty off it on Friday night. The Christmas party meeting will see hams raffled, live music, and even a visit from Santa Claus for those younger ones in attendance.
“It’s going to be a really nice night,” Stiff said.
“The Friday night meetings this time of year are great. You get people who haven’t come before and they what it’s all about. Kids can pat the dogs after races and there’s a really good atmosphere.
“That’s what we’re working on too, making it a real family place where you can get close to the action.”
The first of the night’s 10 races is at 7.03pm.
The Mayor’s Cup is the seventh event at 9.05pm.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
