2019 Zipping Classic Day Tips & Preview
Widgee Turf. Photo By Steve Hart.

2019 Zipping Classic Day Tips & Preview

The Melbourne Cup carnival has come to an end but there is plenty of quality racing still available to punters.

Group racing moves to Sandown for Zipping Classic Day and that’s where we have focused our attention this Saturday.

Our full preview with tips can be found below. 

Race 1: Listed Cooper Stakes (1000m) 12:25pm
#3 Hanseatic

Tagaloa has been scratched so I’m happy to be with the Anthony Freedman first starter in Hanseatic who has been very well supported in the first event of the day. 

Race 2: Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) 1:00pm
#4 Azuro

Azuro has been ticking away nicely this prep including a good third on the heavy going behind Downdraft at Flemington last time out. He romped in the Queensland Cup by 3.8 lengths in the Winter at Eagle Farm at his last go at 3200m and I think he’ll go very close from a nice draw in barrier 4. 

Race 3: Listed Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m) 1:35pm)
#2 Xilong

I’m happy to be with Xilong after she was run over very late in the piece at Flemington at Listed level. The Deep Field filly loomed up and looked the winner before Akari got her late. She is yet to miss a place in her short five start career in which she has won three. 

best bet
Race 4: Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) 2:10pm
#1 Widgee Turf

Whichever way you look at this race it looks as if the cream is going to rise to the top with Widgee Turf. He has been racing at a much better grade of racing than he contests in this without being disgraced and he is one from one at Sandown. He is being to carry a big weight when compared to some of these but with even luck, he should be tough to hold out. 

Race 5: Listed Doveton Stakes (1000m) 2:45pm
#2 Crystal Dreamer

Crystal Dreamer was first up for almost a year when he won at caulfield over 100m at Group 3 level. He then came out and ran well at group 2 level behind Miss Leonidis over 1000m at his next start. He didn’t have it all his own way in the straight and was throwing his head around at a crucial stage when Damian Lane asked him to get out around horses. He has drawn well here and I think this is a race that suits him down to a tee. 

Race 6: Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) 3:25pm
#Home Of The Brave

Home Of The Brave is nominated at Newcastle as well however if he heads to Melbourne I think he will be extremely hard to beat. He did all the work in front in the Redzel Stakes at Rosehill and he battled on really well to be beaten only 1,7 lengths. If he stays in Sydney I think the Charlie Appleby trained D’Bai looks the one. 

Race 7: Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) 4:00pm
#1 Banquo

It’s no secret that the Danny O’Brien stable airbourne at the moment and he saddles up Banquo in the Sandown Guineas. The Written Tycoon colt has strung together two wins in a row now including a Listed race win at Flemington over the carnival. It took him a little while to get going but he was doing his best work late which indicates the 1600m is ideal at this stage in his prep.

Race 8: Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) 4:40pm
#5 Southern France

Southern France was only fair in the 2019 Melbourne Cup however his run in the Irish Leger before that was excellent. He finished ahead of Cross Counter, Latrobe and Master of Reality in that race and I’m not sure the 3200m suited. The drop back to 2400m is ideal and in a fairly weak edition of the Zipping Classic, I think he is the one to beat. 

Race 9: Group 3 Summoned Stakes (1500m) 5:20pm
#11 Vanuatu

Vanuatu is a lightly raced four year old mare who has a fair amount of upside. She narrowly won at Cranbourne carrying 60kg two starts back before being beaten less than half a length behind Amangiri at The Valley in Group 3 company last time out. She jumps from barrier four in this contest and I think she is in this up to her eyeballs. 

Race 10: Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) 5:55pm
#1 Pacodali & #3 Plein Ciel

It was huge effort by Pacodali in the Kyneton Cup carrying the 62kg last start. John Allen took off early around the turn and the horse kept finding right through the line. The drop back to 1800m suits as does the drop in weight. 

Plein Ciel was doing his best work late at Flemington and was beaten only 1.3 lengths on the line. I think a win is not too far away for the Group 3 winner and this looks a nice race for him.