The spring racing carnival moves from headquarters to Sandown this weekend with a huge card of quality racing taking place.
Our full 2020 Zipping Classic Day Tips & Preview can be found below.
This is a tough way to start the day with many first starters taking their place but I’m happy to be with the Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes trained I Am Invincible colt Qeyaady.
I Am Invincible filly La Mexicana could not have been much more impressive then her last two wins in a row at Cranbourne and then The Valley.
The step up to 1400m should not be an issue for her and Jamie Kah can give her the perfect sit from barrier three.
Order Of Command will meet Kemalpasa a kilo better at the weights for having run second to home at Flemington last start on Derby Day.
He is much better suited around the bend and is worth a play at the each way odds currently available in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes.
Prophet’s Thumb is an incredibly consistent performer having placed in 10 of her 19 career race starts.
She finished third behind California Zimbol and Fituese at Caulfield in the Alinghi Stakes and has been freshened for this assignment.
She represents good value at the $11.00 available at time of publish.
Buffalo River has been a very consistent horse over his 13 start career having won six times and placed a further five.
He kicked around the bend with a big gap in the Group 1 Kennedy Cantala Stakes at Flemington but was quickly gobbled up by a very strong field of quality gallopers.
The lightly raced five year old will appreciate the step back in grade for this assignment in the Sandown Stakes where he will get all the favours in front from barrier two.
Aysar was freshened up after his second to Ole Kirk in the Caulfield Guineas to run in the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington on the first day of the carnival.
He looked the winner for a long way before Crosshaven fought back well to pip him in the concluding stages.
The colt by Deep Field doesn’t want a meter more the the 1600m but so long as he holds his current form, his class should get him over the line in the Sandown Guineas.
Carif finished within 1.6 lengths of Ashrun in the Hotham Stakes at Flemington which is turning out to be a pretty hot little form race.
The son of So You Think does did not get it all his own way in the straight and was full of running late in that race and although he does not win out of turn, he looks well placed in this event.
I’ve found it impossible not to tip three-time Group 1 winner Avilius on top in the 2020 Zipping Classic considering he meets a lot of these second and third graders at level weights.
He clearly isn’t up to running out a strong 3200m at Flemington after failing in the Melbourne Cup for the second time last start but John Allen was kind to the horse late in the race obviously because the stable had plans for this assignment.
Homesman set a good tempo out in front on Melbourne Cup day which set it up for those sitting off the pace.
He meets a lot of the same horses in this race as he did last start but his record at this level speaks for itself and he rarely puts in two poor efforts in a row.
This is his first go at Sandown but he should get a good run in transit from barrier five.
Game Of Thorns was freshened up for the Inglis Bracelet on Oaks Day at Flemington where she finished third behind Rocha Clock.
The four year old daughter of Animal Kingdom is only lightly raced but she has plenty of potential and this looks a perfect race for her at this stage in her prep.
She will get a nice run in transit from barrier three with the in form Damian Oliver steering.