Zipping claims historic win

By Paul Pickering
THE name Zipping will be forever linked with Sandown racecourse after the nine-year-old warhorse on Saturday added a fourth-straight Classic to his bulging resume.
Local punters gave Lloyd Williams’ champion stayer a standing ovation as he returned to the winners’ circle amid drizzling rain, having outlasted an accomplished five-horse field in the 2400m Group 2 feature.
The big bay was unsuited by a heavy track, but, after moving up beside frontrunner Exceptionally at the top of the straight, refused to let his legion of supporters down in a gutsy run to the post.
The two-length victory – from Exceptionally and third-placed European grey Manighar – secured Zipping’s place among only four horses in Australian racing history to win the same Group race four years in a row.
Williams’ son, Nick, conveyed the respect with which the horse was held by declaring that Zipping alone would dictate whether he returns to defend the title as a 10-year-old next year.
“He’ll decide that,” Williams Jnr said after the race. “We’re certainly not making any decisions on his retirement. He’s done that much for us that he can choose whether he wants to race or not.”
Williams made no secret of his adoration for Zipping, which has enjoyed the best year of his career in the wake of Group 1 triumphs in the Australia Cup and Turnbull Stakes.
“He’s just a freak of nature,” Williams beamed.“He’s probably not the most talented horse dad’s ever owned, but he’s certainly the toughest. It’s very exciting to have any involvement in a horse like this – it’s something you can only dream of.”
The popular stayer, which is approaching cult status at Sandown, has now won over $4.5 million in his 46-start career.
Meanwhile, Sydney trainer Chris Waller salvaged something from an infuriating spring campaign when his star colt Pressday held off a classy field to score in the 1600m Group 2 Sandown Guineas.
The promising three-year-old accounted for last-start Flemington winner Bigelow (third) and Sheikh Mohammed investments Chasse (second) and Territory (fourth).
The win provided small consolation for Waller, who lost Melbourne Cup hope Metal Bender to a bleeding attack early in the carnival.
Earlier, prolific Caulfield trainer Peter Moody saddled the winners of the first three races, culminating in the 3200m Sandown Cup with Kiwi-bred five-year-old Macedonian.
The inaugural two-mile event attracted a strong field of internationals – including place-getters Above Average and Mourayan – and looks set to become a fixture on the Classic undercard.
In other results, Mike Moroney’s Viking Hero took out the Group 3 Betfair Eclipse Stakes and the Jim Conlan-trained Larry’s Never Late won the Group 3 Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation Stakes.
Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation, which advocates organ and tissue donation, was the Melbourne Racing Club’s supported charity on Saturday, with jockeys wearing rainbow-coloured racing breeches in a bid to raise awareness.