Emma Channels ‘Uncle' Harada In Megastar Bid

GOOD Odds Emma has been in the Jodie Lord kennel for just six weeks, but can repay her new connections with a Group 1 victory in the Dapto Megastar (520m) on Thursday night to continue a family tradition.

The daughter of Fernando Bale and Good Odds Meghan was bought by the Punters HQ Syndicate and comes into the Megastar final off a sensational second to Father Rick in last week's heats.

FIELDS AND FORM DAPTO THURSDAY NIGHT

She is one of three Megastar finalists for Jodie, the other being another Punters HQ Syndicate runner in Punter's Bandit, while Coast Model continues to step up to Group 1 class again.

Good Odds Emma's mother Good Odds Meghan is a litter sister to Good Odds Harada which not only won the Million Dollar Chase in 2019 but then won the Megastar himself later in the year.

"A millionaire, now a Megastar!"

Where were you when the Million Dollar Chase winner, Good Odds Harada, won the G1 @DaptoG Megastar? Definitely one of Battler's Best!#thedogs @SkyRacingAU pic.twitter.com/gbSCfPx7Ry

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) June 24, 2021

“All three of ours will be hard to beat,” said Jodie Lord's husband Andy.

“But Good Odds Emma was an amazing run last week. She came down on her nose early and she has come up with a perfect box draw.

“Our three are all good dogs, but she is probably drawn the best of them.

“The red (Yuko Girl) will lead out and the three (Forever Thankful) will want to get wide.

“But, Coast Model off the eight is still hard to beat.

“And, despite drawing the six, Punter's Bandit is a very good dog and not drawn as too badly either.”

Andy is high in praise of the Punters HQ Syndication.

“They are getting some great people into their syndicates,” he said.

“But, what I like about them is they go looking for dogs to get straight into Group racing. It gives those syndicates instant success.”

Andy gives Ray Webster's consistent Father Rick a great chance in the Megastar final also.

He also reports kennel superstar She's A Pearl returned home early in the week after having two box-to-box trials around The Meadows in preparation for her tilt at The Phoenix in two weeks.

“She went 5.02 first section and 17.76 to the back in a headwind at her latest trial there,” said Andy. “I left her with Anthony Azzopardi to give her a couple of looks at The Meadows.

“She'll be ready to go come The Phoenix.”