The Bonus Issue – Sal’s Zipping Classic Preview

Greetings All,

 

My sabbatical usually would have begun last week, cup week just got in the way so my stakes day sendoff has been pushed to this week.

 

Hope everyone has enjoyed the year and your team did well.  So that covers all the West Coast fans!  For next year the fixture has been released which more and more looks like a commercial document and little to with a fairness and opportunity to all teams.  From a personal perspective the Blues have been battered as a result of their failings.  They have loused up Friday nights for years, however apart from the opener only having one other night game for the year is punishing.  We look forward to the draft next week and we all have hope with every team getting better, at Christmas time we are all equal.

 

Overall it was a terrific Flemington carnival with the track standing up and racing brilliantly despite the challenges presented by the weather gods on Tuesday morning.  Not to say there are not a couple of issues to address.  The internationalization of the cup saw the Poms run the trifecta and northern hemisphere trained horses filling 8 of the top 12 positions.  In addition we saw for the second year running a northern hemisphere 3yo win the great race.  Our race belongs on the world stage, if we want to win our own race then the local breeders need to get on board and we also need to be fair dinkum about rating our horses.  How Humidor was given the top weight for the cups does not make sense given the strength of the European entries.

 

The more pressing issue is the northern hemisphere three year olds.  Ace High won the VRC Derby last year and was allocated 55kg, while the Irish Derby winner Latrobe 6 months younger was allocated 52kg and Cross Counter the winner was at 51kg.  The handicapper, Greg Carpenter, has indicated this is an issue that he needs to consider.

 

Before I get into the selections for Zipping Classic Day, as there are a couple that read no further.  My wish for the summer is that the Australian cricket team becomes one that we are pleased to support no matter the result.  Hope you all have a great summer and holiday season and that none of your players finish the season before it starts.

 

Sandown Hillside

 

Race 4 – Eclipse Stakes (G3, 1800, HCP)

 

No doubt Bring Me Roses (6) is in great form and logical favourite but one win from fifteen is cause for concern.  So reckon Kiwia (3) from the DKW yard represents better value.  Mask of Time (4) has hit form but might find it too dry while Muraaqeb (7) will appreciate it is dry.

 

Selections – 3-6-4-7

 

Race 5 – Kevin Heffernan Stakes (G3, 1300, WFA)

 

Simply if Rich Charm (2) is right then he wins.  If he is not right then reckon Elicazoom (11) can run over the top appreciating the long straight and dry ground.  Chamois Road (5) is good chance second up while Miss Rock (6) has form but a record not unlike Bring Me Roses.

 

Selections – 2-11-5-6

 

Race 6 – Sandown Stakes (G3, 1500m, HCP)

 

Some concern about Fifty Stars (8) who has not won on dry ground, has never finished worse than second so happy to have him on top.  Dollar for Dollar (1) won this last year and can step up, Fastnet Tempest (2) will appreciate the drop in grade and Fox Hall (9) ran well behind Fifty Stars (8) at Flemington.

 

Selections – 8-1-2-9

 

Race 7 – Sandown Guineas (G2, 1600m, 3yo SW)

 

Ringerdingding (3) was super last week at Flemington and will have the long straight to wind up and run over the top.  The Carbine Club is the usual form race for this, Secret Blaze (5)  was very good in that race.  Seabrook (12) is running well in higher grade and Scottish Rogue (4) was good last week.

 

Selections – 3-5-12-4

 

Race 8 – Zipping Classic (G2, 2400m, WFA)

 

A really tough race with every runner having a claim so it will a very wide quaddie leg.  Libran (3) ran well in the Queen Elizabeth with a big weight, meets these at the scale which doesn’t happen often so think he is well placed.  The Taj Mahal (4) controlled this race from the front last year and could repeat the dose.  Dal Harraild (7) is a dry tracker and was very good in the Bendigo Cup.  Our Libretto (8) has great form if you forgive last week.  It doesn’t end there!

 

Selections – 3-4-7-8

 

Race 10 – Summoned Stakes (G3, 1500m, Mares SWP)

 

Our Crown Mistress (2) looks well placed here in another open race.  Would have Zumbelina (4) rated as high if not for the wide barrier.  Pedrena (1) is good second up and Our Sea Goddess (16) rises in grade but does have winning form.

 

Selections – 2-4-1-16

 

Quaddie Time

 

Going with field in Zipping in the first quaddie and then trimming in a second.

 

Quaddie 1

 

Leg 1 – 3, 4, 5, 12

Leg 2 – Field

Leg 3 – 2, 3, 6, 9, 10

Leg 4 – 2, 4

 

320 Combinations, $20 investment will return 6.25% of the dividend

 

Quaddie 2

 

Leg 1 – 3, 5, 12

Leg 2 – 3, 4, 7, 8

Leg 3 – 3, 6, 9

Leg 4 – 2, 4

 

72 Combinations, $10 investment will return 13.9% of the dividend

 

Ring the Bell!

 

Cheers, Sal

 

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