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Zipping Classic 2016 race preview
10 November 2016 10:41 AM
The carnival moves on to Sandown (Hillside) on Saturday with the Group 2 Zipping Classic amongst a handful of feature races on the card. The track was rated a Good 4 on Thursday morning, and with only light rain forecasted from now until Saturday, that shouldn't change.
With only a few Saturday meetings held at Sandown all year it's worth doing some revision about the track's peculiarities. It has one of the longest straights at 491m compared to other metropolitan courses in Australia. The straight also rises which tends to test the fitness of horses competing.
Race seven on the program is the Group 2 Zipping Classic run over 2400m under weight-for-age conditions. Just eight runners are contesting the $300,000 in prize money.
Form Analysis
1. Who Shot The Barman ran a solid fifth in the Melbourne Cup and was pipped on the line in the Moonee Valley Cup the run before over 2500m. Back in trip here but so are most of his rivals. Chance.
8. So Si Bon has been consistent right through this preparation rising nicely up to this distance. Ran a solid fourth in the Victoria Derby with form lines from that race holding up in open age races since. Should be competitive.
2. Big Organge didn't seem to quite get the 3200m in the Cup. Has excellent form at this distance in the UK including a third in G2 company after running over two miles the run berfore earlier in the year. Contender.
3. Almoonqith finished strongly in both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup. Looks to be at peak fitness here and has won at this distance. Chances improve if pace is genuine. Consider.
7. Beautiful Romance was good enough in the Cup. Placed at this distance in Listed company before making the trip to Australia. Awful the few runs before that in the UK. In the mix.
4. Secret Number raced well close to this distance in 2015 in the G3 Queen Elizabeth when second to Dandino. Was setting the fast pace in the Cup so can forgive. Has a good record at this distance in the UK.
5. Tristram's Sun only raced once beyond 2000m earlier in his career when failed over 2200m. Harder here than he's used to.
6. Transfer Allowance. Hard to have on his 12 lengths eighth in the 2500m Lexus. Was good over 2000m the start before. Hasn't placed at two goes this distance.
The Verdict
1st Who Shot Thebarman - finding it hard to go past this one. I like to back horses that are fit and in-form when they come to Sandown and he ticks both those boxes. He'll appreciate a good tempo and expect him to be very resilient in the straight.
2nd Secret Number gets back to a more suitable distance and went well the run before the Cup in the UK. Should be ready to make his presence felt here.
3rd So Si Bon goes in on the back of his strong three-year-old form.
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