Group 1 racing returns to Dapto on Thursday with four outstanding heats of the Megastar.
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Queenslander Mr Metz, the 2009 G1 Brisbane Cup winner, secured the 2010 Megastar when the series was divided by conditions by which four up-and-coming youngsters secured a place in the final against another four hand-picked elite sprinters.
In 2011, Mark Gatt's Oaks Road, after qualifying via the prelude process, prevailed in 29.94 when making his debut in a black type event.
Now, 10 years later with Group 1 status, some of the best sprinters in NSW - and one Victorian raider (Handsome Rhino) - do battle for a place in the $75,000 to-the-winner final on December 9.
The opening heat - Race Five - is deep with quality.
In 2019, Frank Hurst snared the Megastar with Good Odds Harada just seven weeks after the bold striding brindle dog won the Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park.
Hurst returns for this series with unbeaten juvenile Ties That Bind yet she faces a monumental test in the first of the Megastar heats.
Ties That Bind has secured box one but is new to Dapto and takes on the might of Zipping Kyrgios (21 wins) and Ebby Infrared (44 wins) while quality lurks out wide - from boxes five to seven respectively - Lock Master, Handsome Rhino and Coast Model each have the talent to get the job done.
Jodie Lord's Bandit Ned is drawn to win heat two (Race Six). Though new to Dapto, he's secured box one and, with 15 wins from only 19 lifetime outings (including a record breaking 29.38 at Nowra), will start at a very short quote.
The scratching of Good Odds Cash in Heat Three (Race Seven) gives Winlock On Top clear air in the early stages and he boasts seven wins from only 15 starts at Dapto with his PB a smart 29.51.
While drawn wide in boxes, the class in Heat Four lies with Sound Of Silence (box six), Ritza Donna (seven) and Fire Legend (eight).
The four Megastar heat winners and runners-up snare a place in the final.
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