2024 Zipping Classic Day Tips & Preview

Hiyaam Proud just needs to settle in the run to be a chance.  

Matt Laurie’s four-year-old was good in a similar race here at Caulfield over 1700m last start, finding the front over the final furlong before being run down late by the impressive Ruakaka Raider.  

He’s by Pride Of Dubai, so there’s a chance he’ll handle his first look at a wet track, while there’s no knock on his fitness third-up. 

If Michael Dee can get back early from the soft gate and settle, he’ll have plenty of horse left underneath him when it counts. 

Tycoon Star is the only two-year-old in this field with race experience, winning on debut on Melbourne Cup Day by a length under Michael Dee. 

The colt by Written Tycoon was taken back to last out of the gate before punching clear down the centre of the straight, a brave effort after being held up briefly around the 300m mark. 

The form from that run has held up with third-place getter Shining Smile winning her maiden last week on the Heath track, so a similar performance could be on the cards if she handles the wet conditions. 

Quite keen to see Divus Romulus out on a bigger track third-up. 

Nick Ryan’s Irish raider was one of the runs of the race last start at The Valley, tracking wide into the straight before closing the gap nicely to finish third behind Rise To It. 

This is just his third run back from a spell, so he looks ready to peak out to 2400m with 5kg off under Michael Dee. 

On Display needs luck from barrier 10, but if she finds cover early, she should be able to give this a real shake. 

The filly by Fastnet Rock was much-improved first-up in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club of Australia Stakes a couple of weeks ago, finding the line nicely down the outside to run third after settling right back off the speed early on. 

She should be able to adopt similar tactics with Damian Lane sticking in the irons. After finishing three lengths off Manolo Bling on debut on a wet track, she’s not the worst in these conditions either. 

I Am Unstoppable was nearing another win before he stepped up sharply in class to tackle the Champions Sprint earlier in the month down the straight at Headquarters. 

He was no match for some of the country’s top sprinters that day, while a slow start made the task almost impossible after spotting the rest of the field a lead early on. 

His two previous runner-up efforts at Warwick Farm and The Valley were solid pieces of work, and this should be a much easier assignment back in class with three weeks between runs. 

Pisces is airborne right now for Godolphin and just needs luck to fall his way from the wide gate in the Sandown Guineas. 

The lightly raced three-year-old has missed the money only twice from 10 starts, finding himself back in the winner’s circle a fortnight ago when he claimed the Blue Sapphire in a dominant performance from start to finish. 

He loomed up down the outside that day and took charge with real authority, and although there’s a quicker tempo expected on paper this time around, nothing about the way he’s racing suggests he won’t see out the mile. 

Poison Chalice gets out to the 1800m trip now with a couple of solid runs under his belt over the mile. 

Paul Preusker’s gelding was well-supported last start in the Chester Manifold at Flemington where the tactics were slightly in question after rolling forward early and then dropping back to midfield.

The son of Savabeel still finished off nicely for fourth in the end, but it’s no surprise to see a change in rider with Daniel Moor getting a crack in the saddle. 

Drawn a nice low gate, we should see the pair get right back in the run and look to finish over the top in the Eclipse Stakes.

Arapaho finds it tough to win, but there has been a bit to like about his recent performances at Randwick and Flemington. 

The French raider hasn’t won a race in well over a year, but if you go back and watch the replay of his latest effort in the Mackinnon Stakes, he was seen making up some nice late ground to finish six lengths off Via Sistina down the outside. 

He’ll need to settle further forward after spotting the rest of the field several lengths from the tail last time out, but rock-hard fit fourth-up with some improvement still to come, he might just be the best pick among some of these older stayers. 

In terms of class, Tuvalu should have a few lengths on most of this year’s Kevin Heffernan Stakes field. 

Lindsey Smith’s old boy ran a super race fresh in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes a couple of weeks ago, getting to the outside from a long way back to work home late for fifth. 

A proven Group 1 performer who typically eats up 1400m, this is a nice step back to weight-for-age with the gate likely affording Ethan Brown a nice chance to roll forward this time and try his luck on the speed. 

Electric Impulse hasn’t been seen since Oaks Day when she ran to her absolute best to take out the Country Cup Final over the mile. 

The mare by Cable Bay loomed up down the center of the straight, wearing down Oh Too Good for a brave win right on the line. 

That race set up perfectly for her, but she’s no stranger to putting together back-to-back wins.  

Although this is her first look at Caulfield, she looks primed for a repeat effort with Ben Allen engaged again carrying 0.5kg less in the Summoned Stakes to close the card.