The Heats of the 2022 G1 Sportsbet Dapto Megastar have been unveiled with the powerful Lord kennel once again dominating the fields of the final Group 1 race of the NSW calendar year.
Andy and Jodie Lord will rug up kennel regulars Coast Model, Canya Smoke Them and Punter’s Bandit, as well as newcomers Goods Odds Emma and Came And Went in the $75,000-to-the-winner feature – with Andy Lord anointing a surprise number one seed for the series.
“If Canya Smoke Them turns up Thursday night like we know he can, he’ll run some time and he’s probably the best chance. He got to top grade so quickly considering he’s only had a handful of starts but he’s going great and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do,” Lord said.
“You find when they make that jump [from a maiden series to open class], the older dogs can be a little bit too cunning for them but he’s trialling better than he ever has before and he’s ready to go,” he added.
Came And Went adds some different form lines to the Sportsbet Dapto Megastar this year, with the Terry Hill-owned chaser racing predominantly in South Australia before joining Team Lord.
“He had his first run for us last week at Dapto and he went alright. I think he’s a dog that needs to lead to win but he’s got good pace and you need that to have success at Dapto,” Lord said.
“The best dog doesn’t always win the Megastar, sometimes it’s just the first to the front so if he can do that, he’s strong at the end and he’s a handy dog so I think he’ll run well [in the Heats] on Thursday,” he added.
Group 2 Richmond Derby champion and Dapto Silver Collar winner, He’s Grand, will line up in Heat 3 for Rod O’Brien and looms as one of the dogs to beat after a stellar 2022.
“I set him for this race after he won the Collar because I think this is his track. He’s only had the two runs at Dapto [for two wins] but he’s handled it beautifully both times. I could have done hand stands when I saw he’d drawn Box 2, it’s an ideal spot for him and I think he can either beat Coast Model out or sit alongside her and run a big race,” O’Brien said.
“He’s still not even two-and-a-half, he’s building all the time and he’s a very well put together little greyhound. He’s my little man and I really think he can win the thing,” he added.
O’Brien will also send littermates On The Bus and How Good around in Heats 1 and 2 respectively.
Group level performers Zipping Kyrgios and Gatlin will step out for John and Minnie Finn fresh off their tilts at the Melbourne Cup.
While Kembla Grange-based trainer, Ruth King, looks to have the best local hand in the race with free-for-all chaser Asiram and 11-time winner Lochinvar Lona locked in for their hometown feature.
Asiram has won at the track and trip on eight occasions, while Lochinvar Lona won over the Dapto 520m in a slick time of 29.58 back in April.
Other notable runners include seven-time Group finalist Yuko Girl for Sam Sultana and 2021 Sportsbet Dapto Megastar finalists Light and Lily [Mark Forner] and Special Blend [Ashley Dwyer].
The race - now in its thirteenth year - began in 2010 as an invitational race only and was first won by the Ron Ball-trained Mr Metz. In 2011 it became a Group 3 event and was taken out by the great Oaks Road. In 2012 it was elevated to Group 2 status and was won by Bye Bye Bucks, before it became a Group 1 race in 2013 with Peter Rocket claiming the title.
The honour board of previous race winners is chock full of talent with Tommy Brislane (2014), Aqua Cheetah (2017), Let It Develop (2016), Good Odds Harada (2019) and Flying Ricciardo (2020) all winning the race over the years.
Mark Gatt is the only trainer to win the race twice with Oaks Road and last year’s winner Ritza Donna [2021].
