As far as the Zipping Classic goes, we have certainly seen stronger editions, but a fair field of stayers will step out in Saturday’s feature race in Victoria.
Typically it is all about finding which Melbourne Cup horse will be best suited to the drop back to a mile and a half and subsequently loading up, but there is only one confirmed starter backing up from the race that stops a nation and that has thrown my plan into chaos.
My 2019 Zipping Classic tips can be found below.
Southern France is the solitary 2019 Melbourne Cup contestant in the Zipping Classic field and on class, I think that he has to be included. The five-year-old son of Galileo has found form around some absolute superstars this year including the likes of Stradivarius and beat Downdraft and Master Of Reality in the Irish St Leger trial, before finishing third in the subsequent Group 1 race. He was less than impressive in the Cup, but that was obviously a far tougher contest than this.
Ventura Storm has returned several competitive performances without setting the Spring Carnival on fire, and I think that this looks a lovely feature race for him. The veteran stayer has been up and racing for a while but finished midfield in the Herbert Power three back and has since run fifth in the Moonee Valley Cup and fourth in the Queen Elizabeth last weekend. He’s rock-hard fit and should be given every opportunity in this race.
Humidor isn’t the horse that he once was, but a race like the 2019 Zipping Classic still looks well and truly within his reach. The Teofilo gelding’s career has obviously been well documented – he’s won several Group 1 races, gave Winx a proper scare in the Cox Plate a couple of years ago and has been a mainstay in Australia’s best races for several years. His runs for fifth in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes and fourth in the Moonee Valley Cup this time were full of merit and a repeat of either would see him into the finish of this.
Dal Harraild probably hasn’t lived up to expectations this time, but he has finished close to a couple of smart ones this time and might be up to something like this Zipping Classic. The Champs Elysees gelding finished midfield, but not far away from Mosh Music and Surprise Baby at his first two starts this time, the latter obviously one of Australia’s better stayers this year, but he didn’t show a whole lot in the Geelong Cup last time out. He should be at peak fitness for this and he is drawn to receive a nice run from gate 6.