Darren Surprised By ‘Dazza'

DARREN Titmarsh admits the 29.99 win by Hara's Dazza at Albion Park on Thursday night surprised him.

Not the fact the Surf Lorian-Hara's Annie dog won, but the fact he had broken 30-seconds for Albion Park's 520m distance when winning the Novice.

He scored by almost four lengths over Are Jay Lochie and Jimary Moneybags.

It was his second win in 14 starts and those victories have now come at his past two outings.

“I have always liked him,” said Titmarsh.

“He and Hara's Honey were my picks out of this litter. But he has been a big, immature dog and taken ages to come right.”

Titmarsh reckons a trip to the Grafton carnival in July “made” the dog.

“I gave him to Mike Stephenson to take down with him,” said Darren. “Mike didn't have any dogs to take and he always goes to Grafton in July for the carnival.

“The dog raced well there but when he came home it had been the making of him. He was a different dog.”

And the instant improvement was glaring.

He was beaten into second at Albion Park in a slow 30.83 three runs back, then won his maiden in 30.29 on August 6.

“I thought he was entitled to run around 30.20 again in the Novice, but when he broke 30 … that did surprise me.”

Titmarsh believes Hara's Dazza will develop into a fine 600m and then 710m performer.

Immediate plans are to go back to Albion Park for a fifth grade but the lure of the up-coming Ipswich Derby is also tempting.

“He has not been to Ipswich and would need to trial there,” said Titmarsh. “But he would go into the race one of the oldest in the series and that would help.

“Tony (owner Tony Glover) and I are going to sleep on that plan.”