Clark Eyes Successful Sydney Return

THE Matt Clark-trained Sunnyside Zeus will be auditioning for a tilt at the fast-approaching Group 3 New Sensation when the talented Victorian makes his Wentworth Park debut on Wednesday night.

Winner at six of his 21 starts, Sunnyside Zeus comes to Sydney for the first time on the back of a slashing 29.38 victory at Sandown Park last start, the performance strong enough to put the New Sensation firmly on the agenda.

FIELDS AND FORM WENTWORTH PARK WEDNESDAY

For trainer Matt Clark, a return to Wentworth Park will spark some great recent memories, led by Playlist's epic victory over Tommy Shelby in the 2020 Group 1 National Derby.

That group 1 triumph launched a remarkable stretch of results for Clark which included Kuro Kismet's heroic win over Aston Rupee in the 2021 Launching Pad at Sandown Park which followed further big race wins by mighty sprinter Catch The Thief.

Sandown Park scorchers

SUNNYSIDE ZEUS recorded back-to-back #PremierRacing @sandowndogs victories in slick time from the inside draw.

Recent Group 1 #AustralianCup finalist CAPTAIN LARRY secured his fifth win from his last seven races (no audio from race).#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/UvCYlmmikJ

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) March 9, 2023

“I love racing at Wenty Park, it's my favourite track,” Clark told thedogs.com.au.

“I decided not to tackle the Launching Pad with Sunnyside Zeus and at this stage the Golden Easter Egg looks a bit too hard so I'm looking at the heats of the ($40,000-to-the-winner) New Sensation on March 29.

“Sunnyside Zeus is the right age for that series.

“He is raced by Paul Connell who owns (Australian Cup and Hobart 1000 winner) Fernando Mick, so I was lucky to get him because Fernando Mick's trainer David Geall had no room for Sunnyside Zeus at the time.

“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.”

Interestingly, Sunnyside Zeus will tackle race eight from box two on Wednesday, pitted up against fellow Victorian Internal Affairs, trained by Justin Bowman, who will embark on the Sydney sojourn with Clark.

Internal Affairs, a regally bred son of Zambora Brockie and Nino De Oro, has drawn suitably in box eight, yet Bowman is remaining cautiously optimistic about the six-time winner's prospects.

"He doesn't mind a wide draw and goes good first up at tracks so there's a few positives there," Bowman said.

"But I don't think he's up to the class of Matt's dog (Sunnyside Zeus), if he runs a good race and gets home well I'd be happy enough.

“His box manners are his biggest issue. If he jumps and gets into the race he's very strong.”