Is The Race Record In Danger Ahead Of Hot Final?

The race record for the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg stands at Tommy Shelby's 29.27 in 2021 and with Mackenna having won her past two Wentworth Park races in 29.20 and 29.28 there is every chance the record could be broken on Saturday night.

Mackenna has drawn nicely in box two in the 520m final after all-the-way wins from boxes eight and six at Wentworth Park on March 30 and last Saturday and given a dry track with another good getaway she could become the fastest Easter Egg winner since the race's inception in 1990.

Darryl Thomas, whose partner Michelle Sultana trains Mackenna, said: "We just hope it is a cleanly run race and nobody has any bad luck.

"Mackenna's draw looks okay and with a clear run and no bad luck she should be hard to beat.''

Fastest Easter Egg winners apart from WA's Tommy Shelby were the mighty Victorian Fernando Bale in 2015 and last year's winner Simply Limelight, both clocking 29.48.

Even the great She's A Pearl took 29.73 to take out the 2022 final.

Zipping Megatron boasts the outstanding Wentworth Park strike rate of seven wins and two seconds from nine starts and he looms as the main danger to Mackenna.

His trainer Jason Magri said: "He is feeling good and is well boxed, the closer to the fence the better he likes it.

"Mackenna looks the winner but in a hot field like this she can't afford to put a foot wrong and anything can happen in group one finals.''

Peter Lagogiane, whose dog Nad Al Sheba was second fastest heat winner with a 29.51 performance, is candid about his dog's chances.

"The way they are boxed I think it is highly unlikely any of us can beat Mackenna,'' Lagogiane, twice trainer of a Million Dollar Chase winner, said.

"I believe the rest of us are running for the minor placings because Mackenna looks like winning.

"My dog has box four and he doesn't like being crowded on his outside so with Nangar Jim, who has good early pace in five, that might happen to him.

"But Nad Al Sheba is fit and well and pulled up beautifully after his heat win.''

Andy Lord, whose wife Jodie trains Nangar Larry (box seven) in the Easter Egg said: "If Mackenna jumps in front she wins, simple as that.

"But she has box two and Ferness in box one uses a bit of the track so Mackenna can't afford to dwell at the start.

"Everything is beatable and while I'm hoping for a bit of luck, I consider my dog Nangar Larry to be the hardest chaser in the final.''

Mackenna's trainer Michelle Sultana has qualified with Victorian-owned Al's Entity for Saturday night's group one Farrell's 720m Association Cup final and her partner Darryl Thomas gives their dog a strong hope.

Thomas said: "Al's Entity has a nice draw in box three and from there we give him a good chance of finding the early lead.

"If he does he will be hard to run down.''

In the heats Palawa King, who has box five in the final, won in 42.19 with Al's Entity clocking 42.26 and Valpolicella, who has drawn nicely in eight, winning in 42.29.

Both Palawa King and Valpolicella came from a long way back in their heats while Al's Entity trailed tearaway leader Bella Una until leaving the back straight before hitting the front near the home turn.

Jack Smith, trainer of Palawa King, said: "My dog is raring to go, he is as good as ever.''

Box five doesn't worry Smith who is accustomed to Palawa King flopping out of the traps and then threading his way through the field.

Zipping Megatron's trainer Jason Magri is the only trainer with two finalists in Saturday's listed Ausure Ultra Sense final, 520m, named after the inaugural Easter Egg winner.

Wallacia Mist holds a massive advantage on heat times with a 29.55 all-the-way effort, but Magri gives his pair Stop It (box one, 29.85 in his heat)  and Speedy Pie (box three, 29.72) great chances.

"There is nothing between my pair,'' Magri said.

"Stop It has more early speed but he is a risky beginner.

"He is perfectly drawn in box one so long as he doesn't miss the kick again like he did in his heat.

'If he does that again Sparra's (trainer Sam Sultana) bitch Au Contraire, who has box two, might crowd him in the run to the first turn.

"Au Contraire wants to go to the fence so Stop It can't afford to bungle the start.

"Speedy Pie is really well positioned in box three because she is outside Au Contraire and should be able to outpace Leg Speed, in box four, and Betty Birdcage in five, to the first corner.''

Best Bet Palawa King (Race 5)

Best Value Stop It (Race 6)

Race 5 - 5, 8, 4

Race 6 - 1, 6, 3

Race 7 - 1, 7, 9

Race 8 - 2, 3

$20 for 37.03%