2018 Zipping Classic Day Preview

The Merson Cooper Stakes is always a very difficult betting race as the majority of the field will be making their debuts and have not been seen in public. Salome ran well in the Inglis Banner at The Valley on Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day and does have the best exposed form, but it is impossible to bet into this race with any confidence.

No Bet

The Ladbrokes Sandown Cup is always a gruelling staying test and this race looks as though it will be no different. Darren Weir has been hoping to get Yogi out to 3200 metres for a while and the extended staying trip should help the Raise The Flag gelding. He was heading in the right direction at the start of his campaign and he hasn’t had a great deal of luck in either the Geelong Cup or the Lexus Stakes. His record at Ladbrokes Park is excellent and there are few fitter horses in this contest, This is his chance to return to winning form.

2.5 Units Yogi

Sweet Rockette will need some luck in running from the wide barrier draw, but she is a filly that has impressed in her four race starts to date. She beat the highly-regarded Multaja to win at The Valley first-up and she has since run well without a great deal of luck in the Cap D’antibes Stakes and the Scarborough Stakes. I like the fact that trainer Michelle Payne has freshened her up and given her a barrier trial between races. It will require an excellent ride from Payne, but this is a filly with upside.

1.5 Units Sweet Rockette

This isn’t the strongest edition of the Eclipse Stakes and there are no last-start winners in this field. Bring Me Roses hasn’t won for over a year, but she did finish an excellent second behind Shillelagh in the Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day. A repeat of that performance would make her very tough to beat and the step-up to 1800 metres is ideal for her. She may never have a better chance to return to winning form.

1.5 Units Bring Me Roses

The Kevin Heffernan Stakes is another open betting race with a stack of winning chances. Chamois Road went to another level during his Winter campaign and he returned to the races with a credible second behind the flying Runson at The Valley on Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes night. I like the fact that he has been given a barrier trial between race starts and I think that he is the horse that represents value in a contest with a stack of contenders.

1 Unit Chamois Road

There is no horse in this field with more upside than Fifty Stars. He was beaten as favourite in the first two starts of his Spring Racing Carnival campaign, but he was able to return to winning form at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day and the way that he savaged the line was very impressive. The step-up to 1500 metres will suit him and he maps to get a lovely run just behind the speed with Ben Allen in the saddle.

4 Units Fifty Stars

Ringerdingding has always been a horse with plenty of potential and he showed what he is capable of with an excellent win at Flemington on Mackinnon Stakes Day. The turn-of-foot that he showed in that contest was nothing short of outstanding and he gives the impression that he will relish the step-up to a mile. He maps to get a lovely run in transit in this contest and the long Ladbrokes park will suit him.

3 Units Ringerdingding

The Taj Mahal won the Zipping Classic 12 months ago and he is well-placed to go back-to-back. His victory in last year’s race was nothing short of dominant and there is little doubt that he likes Ladbrokes Park. He returned to winning form with a tough effort in the JRA Cup and he was given poor rides in both the Caulfield Cup and the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. Ben Melham should be able to control this race from the outset and he will prove very tough to beat.

The main danger in this contest is Libran. He has been knocking on the door of another race win all Spring long and he comes into this race off the back of a pair of placings in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The Lawman gelding is due a change of luck and this might be the race for him.

2 Units The Taj Mahal

1.5 Units Libran

The Doveton Stakes is packed full of winning chances and it is a race that I don’t want to get too heavily involved in. The horse that does represent value at his current price is Faatinah. He was very game in defeat in the Absolut Stakes at Flemington on Kennedy Oaks Day and I like the fact that he has been kept at 1000 metres. The wide barrier draw shouldn’t be an issue, as he does have the early speed required to cross the field to take up the running. The $14 currently available is over the odds.

1 Unit Faatinah

She has proven to be a touch frustrating this campaign, but I am willing to give Our Crown Mistress another opportunity in the Summoned Stakes. Her past two runs in the Cape Grim Beef Steaks and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes have been full of merit and she should now be at peak fitness. This race is a genuine drop in quality and she is a mare that always makes her own luck right on the speed. This is her chance to return to winning form.

1.5 Units Our Crown Mistress