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LEADING chance Trio Of Clowns has injured a toe and will be scratched from Saturday night’s Group 1 National Derby (520m) at Wentworth Park.
13 January 2025
TRIO Of Clowns has injured a toe and will be scratched from Saturday night’s Group 1 National Derby (520m) at Wentworth Park.
And trainer Syd Swain believes that scratching has completely changed the look of the Derby final, giving his dog Zig Zag Man an even better chance of victory.
“Trio Of Clowns (box 4) likes to drift up the track and that was always going to be a problem for my dog who is drawn in the five,” Swain said.
“But now Mark To Market comes into box four and he is a rocket out of the boxes and crashes to the left.”
Zig Zag Man (Fernando Bale-Julia Mulwee) was a slashing second in his Derby heat to Paw Oswald.
And Syd, who trained 2012 National Derby winner Sure As, talks up the dog as an exciting youngster.
“I have spent the past seven months getting this dog ready for the Derby,” said Syd.
“He went 29.55 around Wentworth Park at 19 months of age.”
Zig Zag Man has since won at Wenty in 29.33.
In eight starts, all at Wentworth Park, he has won four the slowest of them in 29.77 on debut.
Syd believes in his dog.
“I can’t believe the brains the dog is starting to show in his races,” he said.
“And, watch his final 30 or 40 metres last Saturday night.
“It was profound how fast he finished.”
Of the final, he says the fact Mark To Market, a brilliant beginner, comes into the race changes it entirely.
“It looked certain that Zipping Kristoff would lead the Derby final for Jason (Magri), but with Mark To Market in, he is no good thing to do that now,” he added.
But he also rates favourite Jungle Johnny highly.
“The dog is a real good dog and Mark Gatt is a fabulous trainer,” said Syd.
Jungle Johnny, quickest of the four Derby heats last week, is the early $3 favourite for the final with Zig Zag Man next at $3.60 and Zipping Kristoff at $4.
