Serious Object Primed For Daunting Megastar Test

ANDY Lord sees a lot of Flying Ricciardo in his unbeaten rising star Serious Object.

And at Dapto on Thursday night the Gunning trainer will get a great guide as to where his young charge stacks up when the pair match motors in heat one of the Group 1 Sportingbet Dapto Megastar (520m).

FIELDS AND FORM DAPTO THURSDAY NIGHT

"Flying Ricciardo is a freak of a young dog but I see a lot of him in my dog with the way he goes about it," Lord offered.

"I've probably thrown him in at the deep end on Thursday night but if he can get to the front he won't know what's chasing him.

"If he begins like he can, don't be surprised if we have a real race on our hands."

Serious Object heads into Thursday night's Megastar heats as the winner at each of his six career outings in blistering times.

The prodigious talent is a son of 2011 Megastar winner Oaks Road, while his dam Amyjo is a litter-sister to 2016 Megastar hero Let It Develop, trained by Lord for owner-breeder Peter Spiteri.

"He's (Serious Object) as good a young dog as I've had in a long time," Lord said.

"The dog is just a chasing machine – he almost trains himself.

“He doesn't do much wrong and even when he does he's shown he can overcome it. Honestly, in three of four months I reckon he'll be a superstar now we've got over a few little injuries."

Tab.com.au has Serious Object at $12 for Thursday night's assignment with the raging hot favourite Flying Ricciardo at $1.24 from his box three draw.

And while Lord obviously concedes the powerhouse sprinter is going to be mighty hard to beat, he's not totally lost on the prospect of an upset with his star conveyance.

"If my dog steps I've got no doubt he can run 29.50," Lord said.

"His run last week might have looked disappointing but it was his first ever 500 and you could see he was just feeling his way around.

"He'd had two post-to-posts at Dapto and gone 24.14 and then 23.99. The dog is a machine and if he can qualify on Thursday he'll be even better for the final."

Heat two of the Megastar sees Rapallo, a litter-brother to Serious Object, step out from box seven tackling Million Dollar Chase consolation winner Shetland (box two) and Ebby Infrared (box eight).

Tab.com.au has Shetland favourite at $2.40 ahead of Ebby Infrared at $3.40 while $11 is on offer about Rapallo, winner of the Young Star Classic on Million Dollar Chase night.

"I think he's a great chance," Lord said of Rapallo.

"He's not quite as strong as Serious Object but loves Dapto and isn't badly drawn out wide either.

"And Winlock On Top will give his all in the last heat like he always does.

"He's run into Simon Told Helen but if he puts a foot wrong we are a hope. My dog loves Dapto."

Just 22 nominations were received for Dapto's flagship group 1 which carries a first prize of $75,000 to next week's series winner.

"Flying Ricciardo trialling like he did last week didn't help nominations," Lord said.

"But when you look around I don't know what else should be there.”