A daughter of Barcia Bale and Scarlett Girl, Zipping Lady has been campaigning in Victoria and is yet to have a run in NSW in 53 starts.

Hallinan – who trains at Clergate near Orange – brought the bitch back to the state to breed with, but opted to try his luck in the heats of Illawarra’s biggest race before she moves into the next phase of her career.

“She actually trialled really good there the other day so thought I might as well drop her in the race,” Hallinan said. 

“She handled Dapto perfect. The run home was good and she is usually a really good box dog.

“Those are the things you need to win a Dapto. She is a free for all bitch in Melbourne but here last three or four runs have been a bit below par.

“I think there is a big improvement in her.”

Zipping Lady is drawn in box three for the second heat of four on the night.

Hallinan said he wasn’t ‘overconfident’, but expects his bitch to improve off the run if she progresses to next week’s final.

“I just hope she can run first or second and she will come in a better dog next week,” he said. The trainer also has Zipping Chang jumping from box one in the first heat. 

“This track will suit him too,” Hallinan said.

“The Gardens suits him and it’s like Dapto.

“I know he is against some good dogs but I have always liked this dog.

“I think he is a serious animal.”

The Megastar has changed format in 2017. In previous years half of the field were invited to the race while the remainder came through a prelude.

This year all of the runners will come through four heats on Thursday night. 

“We just wanted to give more dogs a chance to get into the race,” Dapto Greyhound Club’s Katrina Novak said.

Race one will jump at 7.10pm on Thursday night, with the first heat at 8.40pm. 

It is free entry to the track for spectators.