2016 Zipping Classic betting guide, form and free tips
THE Melbourne spring carnival continues through to Sandown this Saturday where the Group 2 Zipping Classic is the feature of the day.
The $300,000 Classic has attracted only a small field, but with five horses coming out of the Melbourne Cup, there’s plenty of staying class on show.
The Sandown Cup also has international interest with Qewy and the Sandown Guineas promises to be a hotly-contested betting affair.
Sign up to CrownBet.com.au and enjoy a bonus bet offer for the opening four races on the Sandown card which starts with the Merson Cooper Stakes at 12.25pm.
Race 1 – Thoroughbred Club Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m)
Kedleston has been well backed into $6.50 after the colt opened at $8.50. The Tony Vasil-trained runner hasn’t had any public trials so betting will be the best guide and the early signs are good. Damien Oliver takes the ride and it has drawn in a nice position.
Malzoom is on debut for the Hayes/Dabernig stables and it is another runner coming into this without public trial form. The son of Stratum is on the same line as Kedleston at $6.50 and it might pay to follow any market leads on race day. Craig Williams returned to form with two runners on Stakes Day and he could make a difference here.
Vinland has been specked into $8 after opening at $9 and the Tony McEvoy stable is firing. The Sebring colt won a trial leading into this and despite the awkward barrier draw, punters shouldn’t be ruling it out based on what we’ve seen throughout the carnival. McEvoy has his juveniles up and running quickly this season.
Race 1 tip: Vinland to win ($8) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 2 – Yarramalong Racing Club Stakes (1500m)
Sovereign Nation ran on well behind Demonstrate at Flemington last start and it’s long overdue another win. The Hayes/Dabernig-trained horse has won only two from 13 starts, but it’s now stepping up to its preferred distance and it drops nicely in weight for this. Chance at $3.60.
Stablemate Redkirk Warrior is a Hong Kong export which finished second at Moonee Valley at its first run in Australia. The six-year-old had great form in Hong Kong which included a win at Sha Tin over Contentment and it finished just behind Thunder Fantasy in the Classic Cup. It disappointed in the 2015 Hong Kong Derby and with its last start run under its belt, it looms as a strong chance at $2.40.
Royal Rapture has been up a long time this season and its last start wasn’t great, but bookmakers have it on the third line of betting at $5. The Darren Weir-trained gelding strung wins together this preparation before running fourth in the Toorak Handicap and last in the Crystal Mile. It has a chance here, but would need to improve.
Race 2 tip: Redkirk Warrior to win ($2.40) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 3 – The Sandown Cup (3200m)
The Charlie Appleby-trained Qewy was a strong winner of the Geelong Cup before it ran on stylishly for fourth in the Melbourne Cup. The seven-year-old European import rises up 8kg from its run in the Cup, but it regularly carried over 60kg in Europe so it shouldn’t make any difference. It gets the inside draw which will ensure a soft run throughout. It has been well backed into $2.20.
De Little Engine finished 11.75 lengths behind Francis Of Assisi in the Queen Elizabeth last start, but the run for fourth was encouraging and this field isn’t deep. It has won twice at Sandown which can be a tricky track for newcomers and it will appreciate the rise in distance. Currently on the second line of betting at $4.
Swacadelic is the best of the rest at $9 following its fourth at Flemington last start. The Aaron Purcell-trained gelding flashed home late for fourth and the extra 400m will suit it nicely. Chance on a dry surface.
Race 3 tip: Qewy to win ($2.20) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 4 – OTI Racing Doveton Stakes (1000m)
Husson Eagle is fresh up since April and it has won twice when fresh. The Patrick Payne-trained sprinter was good enough to win the Magic Millions Sprint earlier this year when beating Wild Rain, but its inconsistency has frustrated punters. It followed that win up with a last-placed finish at Caulfield, but it usually finds form this time of the year and $7 is a fair price.
O’malley was a strong winner on Cox Plate Day at Moonee Valley and it looks a strong chance to back that up. The six-year-old has had three runs this campaign since returning from an injury-enforced spell and the five-time winner at this distance is a strong winning hope. It opened at $4 and has dropped to $3.80 following some heavy support.
Brockhoff finished third last time out at Moonee Valley and punters should expect quick improvement. The Ciaron Maher-trained four-year-old has plenty of ability and although it’s finding it hard to win a race, it should be considered on an each way basis.
Race 4 tip: O’malley to win ($3.80) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 5 – City Of Greater Dandenong Twilight Glow (1400m)
The Freedman-trained Petition has improved with every start this campaign and it ran on nicely last time out at Caulfield. The three-year-old finished second behind Jennifer Lynn which is a classy type and the form out of that race as since been franked at Flemington. This isn’t any easier, but it could add some value at $6.
Prompt Response has been threatening to win this preparation and its run for second in the Lexus Hybrid behind Jennifer Lynn was strong. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained filly hasn’t won since breaking maiden grades at Newcastle, but it has plenty of talent and it should go close at $2.90.
Moonlites Choice is an unbeaten filly which has been working through the grades nicely. The Darren Weir-trained three-year-old produced a nice effort to score at Kyneton last start and although this is a steep rise in class, it has winning credentials at a double-figure price.
Race 5 tip: Prompt Response to win ($2.90) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 6 – The Sandown Guineas (1600m)
Morton’s Fork has been backed into $2 after opening at $2.15 and it looms as the horse they have to beat. The John O’Shea-trained colt fought well behind Comin’ Through last start in the Carbine Club and a win in Melbourne looms inevitable. It won back-to-back races in Sydney before running well in Melbourne and it should appreciate the smaller field here. Could be a race of tactics and it has a good turn-of-foot.
Jennifer Lynn has won four from five and it looked mightily impressive last start, but if this becomes a tactical affair, it could struggle. The last time it raced against fewer than 10 opponents was when it ran fourth at Bendigo in a field of eight. It might have to be ridden upside down to feature here and the $3.90 is too short for the risk.
Ruthven pulled out all the stops last start at Geelong to remain unbeaten. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt has now won its first two career starts and it does face a strong field here, but it should be included at each way odds of $10.
Race 6 tip: Morton’s Fork to win ($2) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 7 – Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m)
So Si Bon is having another tough run this campaign after running fourth in the Victoria Derby, but it does get in with a light weight. The Robbie Laing-trained three-year-old is significantly outclassed here, but it gets 8.5kg on the current favourite and punters have backed it in from $5 to $4.60. We’re a fan of this horse, but not in this race.
Who Shot Thebarman produced another great run over 3200m in the Melbourne Cup last start. The Chris Waller-trained stayer flashed home for fifth and it’s back at Sandown to defend its Zipping Classic title. It doesn’t make a habit of winning, but it brings the class into this race and Hugh Bowman rides from the inside draw.
Big Orange is a big gelding which didn’t have everything to suit in the Cup. The Michael Bell-trained six-year-old was on the bit throughout and it never had the clear running room it desires. The smaller field should help here and jockey Damian Lane will likely let it stride forward and make its own luck in front. Danger at $5 if it gets that run to suit.
Race 7 tip: Who Shot Thebarman to win ($3.10) at Bet365.com
Race 8 – Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m)
Lucky Hussler is an eight-win gelding which hasn’t been able to find its form in two runs this campaign. The Weir-trained runner hasn’t had everything to suit in two Group one sprint races, but the rise in distance should suit and its win in the Magic Millions Cup is too good to ignore. $4.80 with bookmakers.
Under The Louvre wasn’t too far away when running fifth in the Manikato Stakes and the extra distance looks ideal. The Robert Smerdon-trained horse ran fourth in this race last year, but punters are expecting a better effort this time around at $3.70. It’s an enigmatic type with its fair share of frustrations, but on its day it would go close in this.
Illustrious Lad is a nine-time winner which scored its career-best win last start at Flemington. The five-year-old defeated Counterattack by over a length and that form should stand up nicely in this. Its form prior included a placing behind Keen Array and back-to-back wins at Morphettville. It’s in great form and the $4.60 suggests it’s a winning hope.
Race 8 tip: Lucky Hussler to win ($4.80) at Palmerbet.com.au
Race 9 – Eclipse Stakes (1800m)
Darren Weir lines up Lidari which finished ninth behind Fabrizio at Flemington last start, but quick improvement is expected. Its form prior included a second placing behind The United States in the Crystal Mile and a similar run would see it winning this. This isn’t a favourable distance for Lidari, but respect the market price of $6.50.
Tucanchoo has a wide draw to contend with, but its run for second in the Cup Day Plate should be respected and the punters have come for it. The seven-year-old import is currently $6.50 and we think that price will firm on race day. It has won on this track which is a big plus around Sandown.
Cool Chap is a VRC St Leger winner which was only narrowly beaten by The Chairman at Flemington last start. The South Australian Derby placegetter has plenty of ability over the longer distances and it has placed in both runs at Sandown. It has drifted out slightly from $4.40 to $4.60 in the betting, but it’s a strong winning hope.
Race 9 tip: Cool Chap to win ($4.60) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 10 – Le Pine Funerals Summoned Stakes (1500m)
Silent Sedition has been running consistent races since winning at Morphettville in April. The Andrew Noblet-trained mare ran second in the Schweppes Oaks before running second again in the Northwood Plume behind Sheidel. It produced a strong finish when third last start and despite drawing barrier 16, it looks a chance at $4.60.
Shillelagh finished second behind Artistry last start which was a nice bounce back performance after suffering a bad check in the Tristarc Stakes. The New Zealand mare has plenty of ability having won five from 10 starts, but it is another which will need some luck from the wide draw. It opened at $4.60 and has been backed into $3.90.
Extensible has been on the drift since the markets opened. The Snowden-trained mare opened at $4 and has drifted to $4.60 following its run for fourth in the Angst Stakes last start. The Sydney form has held up well throughout the spring carnival, but punters are cautious we must respect the betting drift.
Race 10 tip: Shillelagh to win ($3.90) at WilliamHill.com.au