The odds will be skinny but Zipping Zeek is drawn to get punters off to a flying start after coming up with box one for the first time at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Prepared by Sydney's trainer-of-the-moment Jason Magri, Zipping Zeek will wear the red rug in the opening event, the NSW GBOTA Welcome Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Zipping Zeek is is having his first start since exiting box four and finishing second to Oh Mickey in the group two Ladbrokes Richmond Derby final on March 6.
"He drew box one once before at Wentworth Park but the meeting was cancelled but I certainly like him on the fence,'' Magri said.
"If he can possie up in a reasonable position at the first turn Zipping Zeek should be winning, particularly as the field does not look terribly strong.''
Zipping Zeek, who has clocked a sizzling 30.46 from box two at Richmond and has won in 29.71 from box three at Wentworth Park, will head to Melbourne for the heats of the Sandown Launching Pad on March 26.
"The dog's owners Marty and Fiona Hallinan have purchased two entry tickets for the Launching Pad so I will be taking Zipping Zeek and Zipping Sultan, the two fastest dogs in what is a very good litter,'' Magri said.
"Their brother Zipping Junior and sister Zipping Miranda will be aiming for the group 3 New Sensation heats at WP on April 1 while my Paws Of Thunder winner King Cratos is being prepared for the heats of the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg at Wenty on March 28.''
Federal Morgan beat only one home in a 520m Free-For-All at his most recent start, at Wentworth Park last Saturday night, but dropping to fourth and fifth grade and moving from box six to box one in Saturday's 520m It's Going To Be Glorious Stakes can put him back into the winner's circle.
The Carole Eaton-trained front-runner has won one of his two races from box one and was desperately unlucky when seventh in Look Fancy Nancy's top grade event at Wentworth Park Wentworth Park last week.
Federal Morgan began smartly but was disputing the lead at the first turn when Sunburnt Highway, who had drawn inside him in box four, shifted wide and collided with Eaton's dog, putting him out of the race.
"I have not done anything with Federal Morgan since last Saturday because I wanted him nice and fresh this week, hoping he can lead around the first turn,'' Eaton said.
"Federal Morgan is a much better dog when he is on the bunny and from box one he gets his chance to do that on Saturday, so long as he jumps cleanly.''
Federal Morgan has a "dream'' draw as Timeless Moment, probably the widest runner racing at Wentworth Park, has drawn outside him in box two.
Saturday's sole long-distance event promises to deliver an enthralling duel, with Blue Moon Rising and Embye, the fastest Wentworth Park 720m winners in the field, taking on boom stayer Good Juan in the Glorious Golden Easter Egg Stakes, a non-graded event.
Lack of long-distance racing at Wentworth Park has forced Blue Moon Rising into less suitable 520m races in recent weeks but the dog has rattled home to fill second and third placings at his past three starts.
Embye, whose personal best Wentworth Park 720m figures of 41.88 compare well with Blue Moon Rising's 41.65 best time, was having his first long-distance race in eight months when second to Sandave Gypsy at Wentworth Park on March 4.
"He had been trialling well but I think he just ran out of puff tonight,'' trainer Ruth Matic said after that race.
"The run should do him the world of good.''
Good Juan was most impressive winning the Frank Kennedy Memorial in fast time over 618m at Richmond March 6 and is suited by the longer race on Saturday night.
But Good Juan is an enthusiastic railer so is not well drawn in box eight, while Embye in four and Blue Moon Rising in seven are also awkwardly positioned.
Wide runners China O'Brien and Really Unreal, in boxes one and two, hold the key to what happens at the crucial first turn.
Best Bet Zipping Zeek (race 1)
Best Value Federal Morgan (race 5)
Quaddie race 5 - 1, 8, 5
Race 6 - 3, 1, 4
Race 7 - 6, 3
Race 8 - 4, 1, 8
$20 for 37.03%
