2014 Group One Megastar Final Preview

All eyes will be on Dapto tonight with the running of the Group One Megastar final. A star-studded line up of greyhounds will take their place in the boxes at 9.40pm, with one group of connections walking away with $75,000.

After a superb 29.69 performance in last week’s prelude, Shoulders is likely to start the favourite from box one, just ahead of Jason Mackay’s superstar Zipping Willow, who will be looking for her tenth consecutive win in tonight’s final.

Londonderry trainer Anthony Azzopardi had the opportunity to select his box last week and certainly gave plenty of hope to Shoulder’s breeders and owners Brett and Deborah May, who will make the trip from the Hunter Valley today to be trackside.

Recent National Sprint winner Chica Destacada has also drawn well in box two and can never be underestimated in these big affairs. Trainer Doreen Drynan is having a dream run with her at present and will be looking to notch up her second Group One victory for the year.

All prices are courtesy of Sportingbet, who are also offering ARG readers with an exclusive $700 free bet.

“Shoulders is drawn ideally from the cherry and is entitled to be favourite after winning last Friday’s Prelude in smart time,” Sportingbet’s Andrew Brown said.

“Chica Destacada will make things interesting from Box 2 though and if she finds the lead early you can bet she’ll take some running down.”

Box 1 Race Odds $3.20	Shoulders		Trainer Anthony Azzopardi	Owner Deborah May	Prizemoney $61,185.00	Last 10 Starts 3211222121
	27 Months Black Dog by Comic Rumble – Bit Stressed Start Fast Running Rail Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $3.824.06 Rating 98		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 16 7 5 1	Strike Rates Win % Place % 44% 81%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 3 3 0 0	Box 1 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 0 0 1
	Comment (Brett May – Owner): “I am really happy with the draw and if he steps well and gets some room to move on the rail that would be great. He loves Dapto and hopefully things can go his way.”				Best Dapto Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 29.49 29.69 5.36 5.40

Box 2 Race Odds $5.00	Chica Destacada		Trainer Doreen Drynan	Owner Dee and Pee Syndicate	Prizemoney $131,615	Last 10 Starts 1162563111
	28 Months Black Bitch by Cosmic Rumble – Eluthra Start Fast Running Middle Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $5,062.12 Rating 99		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 26 11 4 3	Strike Rates Win % Place % 42% 69%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 0 0 0 0	Box 2 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 1 1 0
	Comment (Kerry Drynan – Kennel Representative): “It’s a hard race and she will definitely have to do everything right to be competitive. Her trial last Friday was a little disappointing, but the conditions weren’t the best so it is hard to get a guide on that run. What I can tell you though is that she is sound and well so we are just hoping for a good start and a little luck.”				Best Dapto Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last NBT NBT NBT NBT

Box 3 Race Odds $7.00	Tommy Brislane		Trainer Steven White	Owner Geoffrey Slattery	Prizemoney $41,890.00	Last 10 Starts 1111151122
	24 Months Black Dog by Premier Fantasy – Mary Virginia Start Fast Running Middle Finish Good Prizemoney Rating $3,222.31 Rating 95		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 13 9 2 0	Strike Rates Win % Place % 69% 85%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 0 0 0 0	Box 3 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 2 0 0
	Comment (Steven White – Trainer): “I think he’s well boxed, very hard race as it should be for a group one. He’s fit and healthy just needs luck in running through the first corner.”				Best Dapto Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last NBT NBT NBT NBT

Box 4 Race Odds $4.80	Flash Reality		Trainer Tony Brett	Owner Marlene Ellis	Prizemoney $159.585	Last 10 Starts 1113111116
	33 Months Black Dog by Premier Fantasy – Orara Flash Start Fast Running Middle Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $8,865.83 Rating 98		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 18 11 2 3	Strike Rates Win % Place % 61% 89%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 18 11 2 3	Box 4 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 1 0 0
	Comment (Tony Brett – Trainer): “I was really happy with how well he trialled last week, given it was his first look at the track. Obviously the box isn’t ideal, but I’m hoping he can get away well and have some luck at the first turn.”				Best Dapto Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last NBT NBT NBT NBT

Box 5 Race Odds $61.00 Heat Replay	Woods		Trainer Marie Burton	Owner Kevin Maloney	Prizemoney $53,305.00	Last 10 Starts 4871757736
	42 Months Black Dog by Goodesy – Ominous Spirit Start Average Running Rail Finish Average Prizemoney Rating $683.40 Rating 80		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 78 15 13 7	Strike Rates Win % Place % 19% 45%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 0 0 1	Box 5 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 10 2 2 1
	ARG Comment: Found a lot of trouble before getting a run through in the megastar prelude won by Shoulders. Is drawn badly once again and will really need to lift to challenge this field.				Best Dapto Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 30.59 30.59 5.34 5.34

Box 6 Race Odds $17.00 Heat Replay	Ritza Hattie		Trainer Mark Gatt	Owner Mark Gatt	Prizemoney $150,810	Last 10 Starts 2142331126
	34 Months Black Bitch by Bombastic Shiraz – Midnight Flare Start Fast Running Middle Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $5,386.07 Rating 95		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 28 14 8 4	Strike Rates Win % Place % 50% 93%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 2 0 0	Box 6 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 0 1 1
	ARG Comment: Returns from a four month spell and trialled 30.26 at this track last week. Faces a tough task from box six, however if she jumps and is given some clear room to move is capable of winning this final.				Best Dapto Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 29.59 30.07 5.43 5.47

Box 7 Race Odds $4.20 Heat Replay	Zipping Willow		Trainer Jason Mackay	Owner M & F Hallinan	Prizemoney $157,410.00	Last 10 Starts 2111111111
	39 Months Black Bitch by Goodesy – Sirocco Lass Start Fast Running Rail Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $3,935.25 Rating 100		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 40 28 6 2	Strike Rates Win % Place % 70% 90%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 2 0 0	Box 7 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 3 2 0 1
	ARG Comment: Absolute superstar who is unbeaten at this track and will be looking for her tenth consecutive win tonight. Faces a tough test crossing from a wide draw, however only needs to be up the front early on to test this field.				Best Dapto Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 29.48 29.48 5.37 5.37

Box 8 Race Odds $41.00 Heat Replay	Lacey Lois		Trainer Peter Acers	Owner P Acers & A Powell	Prizemoney $24,915.00	Last 10 Starts 4223242662
	33 Months Black Bitch by Superman – Naughty Nicki Start Fast Running Middle Finish Good Prizemoney Rating $803.71 Rating 85		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 31 6 12 5	Strike Rates Win % Place % 19% 74%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 4 1 3 0	Box 8 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 6 0 3 1
	Comment (Adele Powell – Part-Owner): “I know she will be competitive and if there’s any trouble with the inside division she may get the fly. She is well and will be a little fitter for the run last week, I’m looking forward to Friday.”				Best Dapto Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 30.03 30.03 5.37 5.37

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