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Johnny Dash could be excused for being somewhat confused and even a little giddy, but the talented four-year-old gelding is ready to launch into his biggest campaign yet at Tuesday’s Narromine meeting.

The lightly raced son of I Am Invincible tackles a strong and wide-open Benchmark 66 Hcp over 1100m first-up, aiming to pick up where he left off in late winter.

Racing returns to Narromine on Tuesday.Credit: Fairfax

Any run of success will be well-deserved given the handful he has been for large parts of his career.

A well-touted $300,000 yearling purchase at the Aquis sales, the then two-year-old colt went to the Annabel Neasham stable at Warwick Farm.

As a testing and head-strong youngster, he continually disappointed in his early races across South-East Queensland before spelling.

Returning as a gelding, Johnny Dash was suddenly put through a dispersal sale by disgruntled owners before being purchased for the relatively cheap sum of $45K by Dynamic Syndications.

Two vastly improving metro trials late last year saw him return in October with a win in a Bathurst maiden before dominating from the front in a Class 1 at Goulburn.

The corner finally turned, Johnny Dash tackled a much tougher provincial Benchmark 64 but punctured badly in the run home.

Given another break, he had two fairly uninspiring runs in autumn this year before a string of stable switches between the Neasham yard and Mack Griffith at Mudgee.

After returning in late May, Johnny Dash showed further significant improvement bolting in a Class 3 at Dubbo by more than seven lengths.

He then came off a freshen-up to charge home and miss narrowly in a strong Benchmark 66 at Scone before finishing best to claim a Benchmark 74 at Gunnedah.

Spelled again by Griffith, Johnny Dash signalled his best may well still be in front of him cruising home to win an open class trial at Warren three weeks ago.

Around $5.50 in early betting at Narromine, Johnny Dash faces stern opposition from a last-start winners Overextend ($3.50) and Din ($4.00).

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