Sunnyside Zeus wins 2023 Group 2 McKenna Memorial after betting plunge
Sunnyside Zeus won the 2023 Group 2 McKenna Memorial Final at Sandown Park on Thursday night following a huge plunge in betting odds.
Leading up to box-rise support came strong for the Matthew Clark-trained chaser, with odds for him with greyhound bookmakers opening at +390 starting price (SP).
He had ran second last week in the heat by one and half lengths in a time of 34.38, behind Hector Fawley.
Top Australian greyhound betting sites had Hector Fawley as favourite in the Group 2 595m final at +200 as he looked toward his second Group win, after his victory in the Group 3 Racecallers Showdown in May.
From the jump, the race favourite fell to the rear, as Sunnyside Zeus moved up to take the lead and hold it for the journey to bag the $87,000 feature in 34.16.
On the final turn, Hector Fawley was seven lengths off the leader and could not recover, finishing out on placings.
2023 Group 2 McKenna Memorial (Sandown, 595m) – Sunnyside Zeus (34.16) T: Matthew Clark
The Mark Delbridge-trained Jarick Bale (+2090), who missed the jump also, recovered well to come from last and finish third.
The other Delbridge-trained dog from the field Ailee Bale (+610) ran well to finish second, a length off the leader.
Sunnyside Zeus is a son of My Redeemer and Minter Bee won the final in a time of 34.16, slashing lengths off his previous best 34.29 at the track and trip.
Sunnyside Zeus started 35 times for 12 wins and 11 placings and has now taken $118,575 in prize money for connections.