Mortified On Verge Of Group 1 Glory In Megastar

TRAINER Chris O'Brien struggles for the words to best describe his star racer Mortified.

"She's just incredibly special … it's hard to imagine I'll ever get another like her," the south coast trainer declared.

"I don't know how others see her but in my eyes she's right up there with the best of them."

FIELDS AND FORM DAPTO THURSDAY NIGHT

On Thursday night at Dapto, Mortified, winner at 16 of her 27 starts, will be chasing group 1 glory when she steps out from box two in a star-studded Ladbrokes Megastar Final (520m).

Last week, the daughter of Fernando Bale returned from almost five months on the sidelines with injury to land her heat in a flying 29.62, extending on her already near perfect Dapto record.

And while O'Brien harboured some concerns going into last week's opening round, the Nowra Hill conditioner is far more at ease about the preparation heading into Thursday night's $75,000-to-the-winner decider.

"She had a little toe injury going into last week which cost me a run with her," O'Brien said.

"I didn't say too much and just kept working on it and she came through it in flying colours, as she does more often than not.

"And she'll only be better for the hitout going into this week."

Adding to O'Brien's Megastar assault is the appearance of Quantifiable, a sister to Mortified, which qualified with a runner-up effort to Victorian star Stealth.

And if either of the two siblings race to victory in the south coast flagship it will provide O'Brien with a career defining group 1 breakthrough.

"Mortified (when a $1.60 favourite) slipped off the matting in the Futurity when she had box one which might have been the big one that got away," the trainer added.

"And then not a lot went right in the Australian Cup either. But she's proven she's up to the class.

⭐️ Mortified was welcomed back to @DaptoG with a win in the opening heat of the @ladbrokescomau Megastar on Thursday night! ⭐️

Here's the iso vision of her heat.

How do you think she'll go in the Final?
Box Draw: https://t.co/17F0y5hWtx#thedogs #greyhoundracing #megastar pic.twitter.com/V4x49gcyks

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) September 2, 2023

"I'm just hoping that home track advantage can play its part on Thursday night as my two have done all their early work and a lot of their racing at Dapto.

"You see when interstate trainers go to Melbourne it's hard to get one over the locals so hopefully it's the same when they're here on Thursday night.

"But in saying that, they are obviously extremely talented dogs as we saw last week."

Mortified has been installed a $3.30 equal favourite with Victorian sprinter Umberto (box 1) for the rich Megastar decider.

And while there is big money on offer, also at the end of the rainbow is a golden ticket for the first three across the line into the Million Dollar Chase semi-finals at Wentworth Park early next month.

"Mortified arguably goes better at Wenty than she does at Dapto so that's obviously the main target," he added.

"In between the Black Top is on at The Gardens so that's an option as well.

"But whatever the result on Thursday she'll be out giving her all like she always does.

"I couldn't think of a better place or race to win my first group 1. You put in all the long hours and time on the road to be in these races so hopefully things go to plan on Thursday."

If Mortified or Quantifiable annex the Megastar it will continue the remarkable deeds of a breeding line that O'Brien has nurtured now for four generations.