News

Turnbull To Zipping

4th Oct 2010

Stallions - Michele Cullen - Sunday, 3 October 2010

A beautiful spring day at Flemington saw more than 15,000 racegoers turn up for the Victoria Racing Clubs 150th Melbourne Cup Carnival ‘Preview Day’ where the Turnbull Stakes was the feature event on the nine race card.

Run under set weight and penalties, nine-year-old Zipping gave his younger rivals short back and sides, when he gave his owner Lloyd Williams back-to-back wins in the 2000m feature, to win his second race at the highest level.

Williams’ son Nick confirmed that the nine-year-olds main aim this spring is the WS Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 23, a race in which he has picked up prizemoney over the past two years. A hulking bay son of the wonderful Danehill, Zipping, cantered down to the start with plenty of zest in his stride and travelled near the speed, set by Zavite and Sterling Prince.

Turning for home he quickly strode up to issue his challenge as the young gun Shoot Out followed him, and, the 2009 Melbourne Cup winner wove his way through the field. Typhoon Tracy arrived on the scene with her challenge, but none of them could get past Zipping.

The tough-as-teak no nonsense, nine-year-old gelding beat Shocking (Street Cry – Maria di Castiglia by Danehill) by a long head with Shoot Out (High Chaparral – Pentamerous by Pentire) a half-head away in third.

Showing all the finest qualities every owner looks for in a racehorse - guts, strength, speed, a will to win with a temperament that would allow a child to ride, Zipping is Danehill’s 89th Group I winner. He won his first race at the elite level earlier this year when he claimed a last stride win in the Australian Cup at this track in March.

Zipping has now won 15 of this 43 race starts and with nine placing’s the bay gelding has repaid Williams in full as Graeme Rogerson had selected him as a yearling out of the 2003 William Inglis Easter yearling sale from the draft of Collingrove Stud and paid $190,000 for him.

Zipping has now banked more than $3.5million.

Out of the maiden winning mare, Social Scene (by Grand Lodge) a half-sister to the triple Group I winner, Scorpion (by Montjeu) and the Canadian Grade 1 winner Memories (by Don’t Forget Me). Social Scene has a two-year-old filly due to step out this season by Fastnet Rock named, Indifferent a yearling filly foal by Encosta de Lago and was served by a group one winning son of Danehill’s, Duke of Marmalade last spring.