Mr Metz Wins Dapto’s First Running of The Megastar
Queenslander Mr Metz ($5.50) led throughout to win the Megastar Final (530m) at Dapto on Thursday night.
The son of Bond-Iza Tora ran blistering sectionals of 5.27 and 16.84 to lead throughout to win the $25,000 to the winner invitation.
He is raced by Bill Crooks and trained by leading mentor Ron Ball.
Mr Metz, who had not raced since winning at Capalaba on May 1, scored by half a length over Certain Magic ($38.20) with Fedex ($8.90) a length away in third.
The winner ran 29.72.
It was a sensational training performance by Ball to have the dog fit to beat a select field of top class gallopers.
For Dapto secretary Paul Mack, the Macro Meats Megastar was a leap of faith.
For the first time in NSW, a race was selected by a convened panel and five group race winners were seeded into the $25,000-to-the-winner Group Two feature.
The previous Thursday Seek And Destroy, Certain Magic and veteran Snozz secured places in the Megastar by filling the placings in the Prelude.
“We were just delighted with the quality of dog which will line up in the final,” Paul Mack said.
“Dapto has a rich heritage with innovative, new races and this one has been widely accepted and praised.
“We seeded five group race winners into the final and I think this is the best field ever assembled on a TAB track in NSW.”
The Meadows Topgun is formulated by means of selection and the Megastar was styled on that great race.
“The Topgun is one of the country‟s most sought after events and, while similar in many aspects, we think we‟ve got an edge,” Mack added.
“The best eight in the land do battle at The Meadows…here the best five are along for the ride, but aspiring youngsters are not left behind.
“It‟s nearly impossible for a young dog to get into the Topgun. Brett Lee, I‟m told, was passed in 2001 and, while he would not have made the first cut for this race, he would have been a “sure thing‟ for a start in the Prelude.
“The qualifying process just added another element and we think we‟re on a winner.”
Ron Ball‟s Mr Metz won the Dapto Maiden last year in a fast 29.66s and his respected trainer was very confident the black dog was going as well as ever.
“I‟m was sure he was going just as well as he was when he won the Maiden Final and if he could get a clear run from box five he would be hard to beat, as it turned he ran 29.72.” Ball said.
Mr Metz is a black dog whelped June 2007 by Bond from Iza Tora (Yo Yo‟s Boy x Tentora) he is raced by Bill & Diane Crooks and trained by Ron Ball at Prenzlau in Queensland.
He has raced 23 times for 14 wins and five placings, adding the Megastar Invitation Final‟s first prize of $25,000 to his overall stake earnings they went to $130,970.
After the placed runners the field finished in the following order 4th Flash Of Light ($6.10), 5th Snozz ($10.60), 6th Tuiaki ($7.60) 7th Elite Blue Size ($2.30fav) and Lovin‟ Spoonful ($15.30) fell.