Fortune favoured Group 1-winning trainer Matt Clark when David Geall didn’t have room to take on talented littermates Sunnyside Zeus and Sunnyside Jo.
The ‘Sunnyside’ siblings are owned by Paul Connell, who also races Geall’s dual G1 winner Fernando Mick.
But Geall’s loss is turning out to be Clark’s gain, with the Briagolong trainer predicting bright middle distance and potentially staying futures for the My Redeemer x Minter Bee duo, which are both in action over the weekend.
Sunnyside Zeus is contesting a 600m event at The Meadows on Saturday night (race 7, 8.35pm), while Sunnyside Jo will line up in a Warragul Breeders Classic heat (460m) on Sunday (race 7, 7.02pm).
Clark is following a proven formula with Sunnyside Zeus, which ventured to NSW for the G3 New Sensation series during the Golden Easter Egg Carnival.
“He won two in a row at Sandown, running 29.38sec, and was eligible for the Launching Pad, but the owner and I were of the opinion that he wasn’t quite good enough,” Clark explained.
“He isn’t the quality of the dogs I’ve had in the series before,” added Clark who won the 2021 Launching Pad with Kuro Kismet.
“We decided to go up to Sydney for the New Sensation instead, thinking it might’ve been an easier option, but it didn’t work out that way.
“Wentworth Park is my favourite track – I won my first Group 1 up there (Playlist in 2020 Vic Peters) – and I’ve had success before with dogs that have been beaten up in Sydney but come home and gone really well. Kuro Kismet got beaten at Wentworth Park and won three or four in a row when he came back.”
Since returning from Sydney, Sunnyside Zeus has scored impressively over 600m at The Meadows, before running third to Group placegetter Play Nice at his 730m debut.
Sunnyside Zeus (box 2), winner of seven from 25, drops back to 600m for Saturday night’s assignment, where he’s on the the third line of Sportsbet’s market at $3.40.
“I’ve always said this dog is going to stay and I was really happy with his last run for his first go over the distance,” Clark said.
“I think he’s going to make a good stayer down the track, but we’ve decided to drop him back to ‘600’ for the time being.
“He lacks a little bit of early pace but he’s a very versatile dog and he’s boxed beautifully on Saturday night.”
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Then on Sunday evening at Warragul, Sunnyside Jo, which has won six from 18, has her second run back from a spell in the third of four heats of the Breeders Classic, restricted to females with 1- 6 wins.
“She’s run 29.42sec at Sandown and 29.82sec at The Meadows,” Clark said.
“In her Meadows win, she spotted Kung Pow Kevin, which was flying at the time, about ten lengths!
“I think she’s going to make a really good middle distance dog.
“She’s had two months off and I’m bringing her back through the provincials, trying to find easier races for her.
“She ran second first-up (Traralgon) and qualifies for the Breeders Classic, so I decided to go there. This distance isn’t ideal for her – she wants 500m – but I’m banking on her being fresh.
WATCH: SUNNYSIDE JO (B5) conceded KUNG POW KEVIN (B1) a huge lead at The Meadows on December 21 before charging home to score in a fast 29.82sec.
“I think Sunnyside Zeus is the better race dog, but Sunnyside Jo is faster. She’s more brilliant.
“They’re both good chances on the weekend.”
While Clark is excited about where the ‘Sunnyside’ duo can get to, he paused before nominating an unraced youngster as his current kennel standout.
“That’s a good question!” Clark posed thoughtfully.
“I’ve actually got a Shima Shine pup that hasn’t raced yet that goes really well.
“You can quote me that I think Shima Shine is going to be the next big thing at stud. He’s throwing good old-fashioned chase into his pups.”
