Talented South East galloper Dr Dee Dee will be out to strengthen his grip on the Limestone Coast Cup Series in the Coonawarra Vignerons Cup at Penola today.

The Daryl Dodson-trained galloper was heavily backed to win the opening heat of the series on his home track in the Bordertown Cup in early December before running fourth behind Hopon Harry at Morphettville on Boxing Day.

Dr Dee Dee will be trying to go one better than last year after being narrowly beaten by Skillful Steps but Dodson said they were not fully committed to lining up after drawing the extreme outside barrier drawn in gate 13.

“The wide gate is not ideal and we’ll just see how the weather is over the next couple of days,’’ Dodson said.

“We’ll also accept with him at Murray Bridge on Saturday and make a decision later in the week,’’ he said.

The interesting runner will be Tiger Royale on debut for John Dunn and Krystal Bishop.

The seven-year-old showed plenty of early ability winning six of 21 starts for Victorian horseman Archie Alexander and has not raced since running sixth behind Starcaster in the 2021 Benalla Cup and has apprentice Rochelle Milnes in the saddle.

Dunn and Bishop have three acceptors in the race with former Sydney galloper Ahso, a Port Lincoln winner two starts, to be ridden by Ellis Wong while Alana Livesey will partner Mount Madeira.

Mount Gambier horseman Lee Creek saddles up Air Time (Sophie Logan) and Wild Willy who will be ridden by gun local apprentice Jacob Opperman in the feature.