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Zipping a form chance for four

12th Nov 2010

The Daily Telegraph - Brent Zerafa - Friday, 12 November 2010

DON'T expect Zipping to be ridden Melbourne Cup-style as he aims for his fourth straight Sandown Classic win tomorrow.

The nine-year-old galloper was close to last on the turn in the Cup and recorded the second-fastest final 400m sectional of the race as he rattled down the outside of the field to finish fourth to Americain last week.

But with only a small field of eight and tactics likely to play a big part, owner Lloyd Williams has indicated he will instruct jockey Nicholas Hall to be positive from barrier one and would not be worried if he ends up leading in a slowly run race.

"We need to make it a genuine run 2400m," Williams said.

TAB Fixed Odds yesterday opened Zipping at the red-hot odds of $1.60, with Ginga Dude second-pick at $6.50 and Manighar at $7.50.

He has never run on a heavy rated track and Williams is slightly concerned about the predicted drenching rain that is expected to hit Melbourne late today.

"The prospect of a heavy track does not fill me with joy but you would not think it will be any worse than Cup day when he handled it well," Williams said. "It was rated a slow 6 but jockeys said it rode like a heavy 8."

On ratings Zipping has no rival. His Turnbull Stakes win, Cox Plate second and Melbourne Cup fourth have pushed his mark to 119 with Ginga Dude next best at 110.

His work has pleased connections since the Melbourne Cup and is going in to the race in the form of his career.

"Striding up this morning he looked a ball of muscle. [Jockey] Eddie Cassar said he gave him a nice feel," Williams said. "He's in the best form of his career, there is no doubt about it."

THE racing future of top-class galloper Monaco Consul is in doubt after the stallion suffered a suspensory ligament injury when he finished 14th in the Melbourne Cup.

Trainer Mike Moroney said the injury was not serious but would cause the four-year-old son of High Chaparral to miss the Sydney autumn carnival.

"I am sure he would be ready for Brisbane but I will speak to the owners when I see them in January at the yearling sales in New Zealand," Moroney said.

He said Monaco Consul would be a valuable stud proposition.

Moroney's star three-year-old filly Brazilian Pulse, who won the VRC Oaks last week, is already in the spelling paddock. The trainer will bring her back for Melbourne in the autumn and then head to Sydney for races such as the Arrowfield Stakes and the AJC Oaks.