Bordertown-based trainer Darryl Dodson is hopeful Dr Dee Dee can maintain his form and claim another South East feature in today's $26,800 Coonawarra Vignerons Cup (1700m) at Penola.
The five-year-old has struck a purple patch of form over the festive season and will be chasing his fourth straight victory.
Dodson, who won the 2018 feature with We’re So Lucky, said after showing plenty early in his career – when he won two of his first three starts – Dr Dee Dee was finally living up to his potential.
“He showed us a little bit early in his career,” Dodson said.
“But he got nervous and lost the plot. He wouldn’t go into the gates, he wouldn’t stay there and then he wouldn’t gallop.
“But he’s grown up and really showing some heart.”
His record over the second half of 2020 and start to this year has been excellent, winning six of his past 13 starts, including a last-start Bordertown victory where he claimed the scalp of Territory Titan.
“He is going well, which is a little bit strange,” Dodson said.
“I didn’t actually think he could win at Bordertown, but you can’t knock a winner.
“He seems to have pulled up well. At one stage of his career, I would have said you wouldn’t know which horse was going to turn up. But he has been consistent this time around and seems to be in a good frame of mind.”
Dr Dee Dee will be ridden by gun South East apprentice Jacob Opperman, who partnered the horse to his last-start win.
Opperman has ridden 25 winner in the 2020-21 season and gained his ticket to ride in metropolitan races at the start of the year.
Mount Gambier trainer Richard Wilson and Mr Holyfield will be chasing a second successive feature.
Due to uncertainty surrounding COVID-10, unfortunately Vigneron’s Cup Day will look different in 2021, with Coonawarra Vignerons cancelling its traditional marquee that usually hosts in excess of 700 guests.
