STAWELL - Tomorrow's Zipping Classic at Sandown is the final chance for Stawell based galloper Exceptionally to win a feature race this spring.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Trainer Terry O'Sullivan is confident his six year old mare and jockey Dean Yendall can break through to take out the event after an unlucky spring carnival campaign.
The $350,000 group (2) race is Exceptionally's last appearance before a spell, with the mare set for a return in the autumn.
Her most recent race was at Flemington a fortnight ago, when she missed out on a Melbourne Cup appearance after finishing third in the Lexus Stakes.
The six year old pulled up well from the race, with O'Sullivan saying she's going 'really well' after a couple of weeks away from the track.
"She couldn't be much better. She drew barrier eight, she hasn't had much luck there but it's a small field," he said.
"Pat Carey's horse (Dame Claire) is there and has a bit of speed so hopefully it will be a nice, genuine run race."
Although O'Sullivan is wary of the Lloyd Williams owned pair, Tanby and Mourayen, the latter having 'a reasonable Melbourne Cup run'.
"It'll be a fairly tough race, naturally for the kind of money. But I think she (Exceptionally) will be one of the favourites."
It has been a tough spring carnival campaign for trainers Terry and Karina O'Sullivan and Exceptionally.
Exceptionally ran seventh in the Geelong Cup following unlucky third placings at Caulfield in both the D'Urban Naturalism Stakes and Sportingbet Herbert Power Stakes.
In between, the mare was sensationally scratched from the 2500 metre Bart Cummings Listed event at Flemington early last month when O'Sullivan believed the track was too hard for her.
Meanwhile, O'Sullivan doesn't expect any dramas with the track at Sandown tomorrow.
"Sandown's usually pretty good. I'd be disappointed if it's not a genuine good three," he said.
When asked what the key to a win was, O'Sullivan said the pace will certainly help but declared Exceptionally will have to 'make her own luck.'
O'Sullivan has again put his faith in jockey Dean Yendall as they strive for a long-awaited victory.
"We'll stick with him, he hasn't done much wrong," O'Sullivan said of Yendall.
