Double Back's Mega Group 1 Dapto Test

UNDERRATED sprinter Double Back will be striving for a major race breakthrough when the son of Dyna Double One sizes up Thursday night's Beteasy sponsored Group 1 Dapto Megastar (520m).

Trained by Peter Lagogiane, Double Back stormed into calculations for the $75,000 to-the-winner final by way of his slick 29.78 heat victory last Thursday evening, defeating fellow finalist Spookie Vision by 2 ½ lengths.

"I think you could say he's a little but underrated … he's got a very good record and has been in some nice races but I'm a realist, he's got the job ahead on Thursday night," said Lagogiane.

Thursday night's Dapto Megastar has a real Million Dollar Chase feel about it.

This year's Million Dollar Chase winner Good Odds Harada takes his place for Frank Hurst following his commanding 29.64 heat victory, while Lagogiane, winning trainer of the inaugural series with Mystic Riot, is represented by Double Back.

2018 MDC runner-up Jamella Jet has qualified for Thursday night's Megastar as has Jimmy Casey, a finalist this year behind Good Odds Harada.

And with a terrific field of top-credentialed sprinters vying for Thursday night's rich purse, TAB has installed Good Odds Harada, unbeaten in three Dapto appearances, the firm $2.10 favourite ahead of Double back at $5.

Next in line is Neil Staines' fastest qualifier (29.63) Lightning Vision at $7 – the hugely talented son of Kinloch Brae drawn precariously in box seven.

"It's the kind of race you can run in your head 100 times and can come up with a lot of different scenarios," Lagogiane added.

"It's not a group 1 that you'd say has a stack of genuine early speed which does help our chances. A few of them can begin on their night but are a bit up and down.

"It will all come down to the start. I give my dog a chance of crossing from eight but it will depend on what Good Odds Harada does. He seems to begin better the closer he is to the fence; there's not a lot of speed around him on Thursday which makes our job harder."

Winner at eight of his 20 starts with a further seven placings, Double Back has the form on the board to make a real run at Thursday night's Megastar.

This time last year he kicked off his career with victory at Richmond in the Steeline Maiden series, defeating opposition the calibre of Feral Franky and Good Odds Buddy.

At just his fifth race start he ran a cracking second to Melbourne Cup winner My Redeemer at Richmond before venturing to Sandown for the lucrative Launching Pad series where he defeated star chaser Flynn on his merits in a heat.

"I can't have him any fitter or better for Thursday night … I'm really happy with him," Lagogiane added.

"We have a few niggling injuries we need to manage with him but touch-wood he's in perfect order. He trialled up the straight as good as I've seen him on Monday so it's all up to him now. He needs to come out running and if he does he's in with a chance.

"Winning a race like this would be special but to win it for (owner) Ray Grech would be even more rewarding. He's as passionate an owner as you'll find and he deserves to win a top race. Hopefully that's on Thursday night."

PIC: Courtesy Redden Video