Egg-Citement Brewing Ahead Of Lord's G1 Push

PREMIER Wentworth Park trainer Andy Lord's prospects of a second Group 1 Golden Easter Egg triumph in three years skyrocketed with the box draws for Saturday night's semi-finals.

Lord and wife Jodie won NSW's most prestigious race in 2022 with champion sprinter She's A Pearl.

While there's no She's A Pearls among Lord's semi-final quartet this weekend, the prolific Gunning mentor is poised to have a major say in proceedings.

FIELDS AND FORM WENTWORTH PARK SATURDAY NIGHT

Despite not winning a heat a fortnight ago, Lord boasts two favourites in the four semis, which were postponed from last Saturday due to Sydney's big wet.

Omega Travis (semi 1) and G2 Bulli Gold Cup winner Nangar Larry (semi 3) head betting in their runoffs at $3.60 and $3 respectively, after drawing the prized rails alley.

Nangar Larry, a son of multiple G1 winner Shima Shine, part-owned by Melbourne Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, is unbeaten in three career appearances in the red vest.

Omega Travis, a lightly-raced son of 2015 Easter Egg hero Fernando Bale, owned by Joe Lannutti, who also raced She's A Pearl, has won three from six at Wentworth Park and will exit box one at the track for the first time.

Lord's other two contenders – One Hot Bandit (semi 2 – $8.50) and Omega Jacob (semi 4 – $11) – will both exit box eight.

Lord is especially bullish about the chances of Nangar Larry and One Hot Bandit, winner of the G3 Magic Maiden at last year's Easter Egg meeting.

"They're all a few lengths off She's A Pearl," he said.

"But with the box draw, I've been given every chance. It's up to them now.

"Obviously, Nangar Larry and Omega Travis are well drawn in box one. Omega Travis is desperate for the fence.

"I'd have to say Nangar Larry is my best chance, but I do like One Hot Bandit too.

"One Hot Bandit is going really well and he's very well-boxed.

"He was also drawn out in box seven in the Million Dollar Chase and he was a good thing beaten. He was just going to win. It nearly made me cry!"

Having won both the Golden Easter Egg, which offers a $350,000 winner's purse, and Million Dollar Chase with She's A Pearl, Lord doesn't hesitate in nominating which race means the most.

"It's got nothing to do with the money, the two best races in Australia are the Easter Egg and the Melbourne Cup," he said.

Lord will also have the advantage of box one in Saturday night's G3 Magic Maiden Final in $5.50 chance Marshall Kade, a 29.99 heat winner.

Lord is chasing his third Magic Maiden trophy in four years, having won the $25,000 to-the-winner feature with Bandit Ned in 2021 and One Hot Bandit last year.

"Marshall Kade is well-boxed but he's going to need a bit of luck," Lord said.

"He's not blessed with blinding early pace but he's strong. I think he'll eventually stay.

"If he's close enough he'll make it interesting."