Zig Zag Man (pictured), fresh from his fifth placing in the Ladbrokes National Derby final, has broken a track record in preparation for his return to Wentworth Park on Thursday night.
Zig Zag Man, who has box three in the Sponsor a Race @ Wenty Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, trialled over 401m at Richmond on Monday and stopped the clock at 22.35.
The course record of 22.36 was set by Vamoose on July 14, 2023.
Trainer Syd Swain said: "I freshened Zig Zag Man up after the Derby on January 18 so I'm very happy with how quick he went at Richmond in that trial.
"Zig Zag Man is only just getting wound up after 401m and 520m suits him better.
"Box three looks good for him on Thursday night too.''
Zig Zag Man
Night Agent, a litter brother and kennelmate of the outstanding sprinter Foreign Capital, who has won 13 of 26 races and clocked a sensational 29.37 at WP, gets his chance on Thursday night after drawing box one in the Ladbrokes Battlers Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Night Agent has had just one win but registered seven placings from 15 WP appearances.
Part-owner Gordon Sciberras, who also races Foreign Capital, believes Night Agent has strong claims on Thursday.
"Although he has only won four races, two of those wins were from box one, his draw at Wenty,'' Sciberras said.
"Night Agent has run 29.67 at WP so has a lot of ability but sometimes I think there must be two of him.
"It all depends on which one turns up on Thursday night but gee, if Night Agent can't win this race after drawing the rails I don't know where he is going to able to win one.''
Western districts trainer Scott Board has litter brothers Spring Laver and Spring Floral engaged in Thursday night's NSW GBOTA Welcome Stakes, a one to two wins 520m fifth grade.
"There is nothing between my pair, they are both capable of running around 29.90 at Wenty with a clear run,'' Board said.
"But the draw favours Spring Laver who has box three.
"Spring Floral is going well but box eight might be bad for him because he is a slow beginner.
"I have done a lot of box work with him but while he doesn't seem to do anything wrong once he is placed in the boxes, he just never seems to come out well.''
Best value at WP looks to be Cunningham, ideally positioned in box one in the 520m fifth grade Ladbrokes Sports Bar Stakes.
Cunningham has worn the red rug just once, resulting in a 520m fifth grade WP win in a smart 29.85.
At his most recent start Cunningham was never out of trouble from box six when last at WP on January 23 but trainer Ken Burnett said: "That run can be forgotten, the dog was wiped out completely at the first turn.
"Because there were no trials at WP on Monday night I took Cunningham to Dapto and gave him a post-to-post hit-out and he went really well.
"He just has to do everything right on Thursday to be awfully hard to beat.''
