First conducted in 2009 at Group 3 level, Dapto’s Sportsbet Megastar shifted gears to become the only Group 1 race sprint event conducted on a provincial track in 2013.
On Thursday, star sprinter Zipping Kyrgios – after winning his heat on December 2 in a near-record 29.40 – seeks to add lustre to his already impressive resume in the $75,000 to-the-winner Megastar.
Punters will rally to support the John Finn-prepared powerhouse sprinter, yet he’s drawn box six and, despite a solid record from wide boxes, victory will be hard-earned.
Sound Of Silence’s story is remarkable. He stepped up to 600m in early March before registering smart times at Dapto (729m), Wentworth Park (720m) and over Richmond’s 717m during winter.
More recently, Hurst has reverted back to sprinting Sound Of Silence and the son of Fernando Bale won six from 10 since the switch while missing a place only once.
He scored in a smart 29.65 at Wentworth Park and last time he secured box one - his grid position in the Megastar - and a 29.69 all-the-way win was the outcome.
Having equalled the Dubbo 516m record (29.27) and posted quite remarkable times at Richmond (30.26) and Wentworth Park (29.37), Zipping Kyrgios’ class is writ large.
Whether Zipping Kyrgios can begin quickly and secure clear running through the first turn is the tangible query.
The Megastar is by no means a ‘two horse race’ yet Sound Of Silence and Zipping Kyrgios – each boasting 22 career wins – are the headline acts.
Group 1 Peter Mosman Opal winner Light And Lily boasts an excellent record at the Showgrounds circuit and will have admirers at odds yet, in recent weeks, Sound Of Silence has twice had her measure at Wentworth Park and, this time, Zipping Kyrgios’ presence adds spice.
