Ditmas not under radar
DITMAS ambushed his rivals in a stunning debut but won’t go unnoticed into his second start today.
Gold Coast trainer Mel Eggleston will look to win a second straight race with the five-year-old gelding who will run on an expected rain affected track in today’s Class 1 Handicap (900m).
Ditmas won at $9.50 in June at Aquis Park after going into the maiden without a barrier trial.
The former rogue was sent out to spell on the paddocks of legendary horseman, and part owner, Vic Frost at Sleepy Hollow near Mooball on the NSW north coast.
Ditmas has been back in work for 10 weeks and will get another chance to test himself if today’s races go ahead in the wet.
Ditmas is in the market at $3.20, with only Bevan Laming’s Calzini topping it at $2.40.
“He looks good but this run will clean him up a bit,” Eggleston said. “He is not shining like a pin like he normally is and I don’t know how he will handle the wet.
“He has been in the paddock and has gone straight to the races. We didn’t give him long off, it was just a freshen-up to let him plod around. He has exposed form but (Calzini) is supposed to be pretty good.
“The question mark is going to be how he gets through the track. A 900m sprint on a heavy track, they want to be fit.”
Eggleston said he held no reservations about sending Ditmas straight back into racing in tough conditions.
“We are not trying to sell him or anything like that. We will give him a run and if he comes through it well then he is a smart horse,” Eggleston said. “It is a bit of a test for him.”