Sunnyside Zeus Makes Wenty Debut

By Jeff Collerson
Sunnyside Zeus, who clocked a flying 29.38 winning at Sandown on March 9, makes his Wentworth Park debut on Wednesday with the $25,000 to the winner Group 3 New Sensation series his mission.

Sunnyside Zeus is trained in Victoria by Matt Clark who said: "I love racing at Wenty Park, it's my favourite track.

"I decided not to tackle the Launching Pad with him and at this stage the Golden Easter Egg looks a bit too hard so I'm looking at the heats of the New Sensation on March 29.

"Sunnyside Zeus is the right age for that series.

"He is raced by Paul Connell who owns Fernando Mick, so I was lucky to get him because Fernando Mick's trainer David Geall had no room for Sunnyside Zeus.

"He has not seen Wenty Park, I am using Wednesday's race as his trial but I expect him to go close to winning because it looks a nice race for him and he is well drawn.''

Sunnyside Zeus will exit box two in the Fizz Is Coming To Wenty Stakes, a 520m fourth and fifth grade.

Richmond Derby winner Zipping Novak will be all the rage after drawing box one in Wednesday night's 520m Free-For-All but he has to overcome "giant killer" Fascinate Mel, a brilliant front-runner in box two.

In each of six Wentworth Park wins over the past 10 months Fascinate Mel has been sent out at double figure odds, and after winning at $15 on February 11 was an $11 outsider when she toppled Wyndra All Class and Simply Limelight last Wednesday.

"Fascinate Mel is feeling really well, certainly as good as she was before her win last week,'' trainer Noelene Holloway said.

Best value on Wednesday could be Aussie Warpath, who made the pace when beaten less than a length into second place by Mister O'Brien at Wentworth Park last week.

Aussie Warpath has box six in the Graham Kellett's Last Race Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

Trainer Jason Sing said: "Until last Wednesday's race Aussie Warpath had not been out of the 520m boxes at Wentworth Park, the only time he had seen the track was in a post-to-post hand-slip when he was still virtually a puppy.

"I was happy with his run and because he used a bit of the track and got wide on the home turn he should handle box six okay.

"He can be moderate early but he came out well last week and if he steps away as cleanly he should go well.

"My only worry is I don't want him outside Zipping Foxy at the first turn because that greyhound has box three and gets wide.''

Vamos Penny has not raced for over a year but has trialled promisingly in preparation for her return in Wednesday night's Ladbrokes Same Race Multi Masters Stakes, 520m.

Vamos Penny trialled solo last Wednesday and clocked 30.11, carving out a first split of 5.53 and running home in a handy 11.84.

Although Vamos Penny has won two of her seven races from box eight, her draw on Wednesday, trainer Kerry Drynan would have preferred her boxed near the rails.

"She has had nothing serious wrong with her, it's just been a succession of setbacks,'' Drynan said.

"Vamos Penny has clocked 29.65 at Wenty so her trial time was below her best and if she doesn't come good this preparation she will be off to the breeding barn.''

Best Bet Sunnyside Zeus (race 8)
Best Value Aussie Warpath (race 4)

Quaddie 
Race 5 - 3, 8, 6
Race 6 - 3, 7, 4
Race 7 - 1, 2, 3
Race 8 - 2, 6
$20 for 37.03%