FLEM OCT 03 - EVERGREEN ZIPPING CHALKS UP HIS SECOND GROUP 1 SUCCESS

By Taron Clarke | Monday, October 4, 2010

Flemington, October 3, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - Out 9m. Penetrometer 4.77.
Turnbull Stakes (Group 1) 4YO+ Open SW+P - 2000m.
Time: 2-03.23. 600m Sectional: 35.64. (Carrying 59kg).
1 Zipping; 2 Shocking; 3 Shoot Out.
Margins: 0.2L x 0.1L.

Owner Lloyd Williams capped a wonderful weekends’ racing when stable stalwart Zipping claimed the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Sunday afternoon.

Williams had claimed the Group 3 Craven Plate at Randwick with C’est La Guerre and a second placing in the Group 1 Metropolitan with Mourayan.

The grand old galloper, at the age of nine, claimed his second Group 1 event after breaking his duck earlier in the year in the Group 1 Australian Cup run over the same course and distance as the Turnbull Stakes.

As with his victory in the Australian Cup, Zipping was second up in the Turnbull after resuming in the Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley three weeks ago.

Ridden by Williams’ godson Nick Hall, the son of the ill-fated champion stallion Danehill, started from barrier six in the capacity field of sixteen.

Jumping away with the field, Zipping and Hall slotted into the one wide line mid field with Faint Perfume and Vigor either side of him.

Kiwi galloper Sterling Prince took up his customary role as pacemaker over the Anthony Cummings trained Zavite who positioned on the leaders heels as the field settled into rhythm.

Favourite for the event was the John Wallace trained Shoot Out. Regular rider Stathi Katsidis had the son of High Chaparral in a lovely trailing position one off the fence within five lengths of the leader.

Melbourne Cup hero Shocking settled in fourth last position on the inside of Sydneysider Metal Bender.

As the field negotiated the bend at the 1200 metre mark, the Gai Waterhouse trained Descarado who had jumped and been caught three wide from barrier fourteen, surged forward to sit outside of Sterling Prince.

Inside the 800 metre pole, the runs of the back markers started to come.

Stathi Katsidis and Shoot Out were flushed out five wide, as the leader Sterling Prince slipped away to lead the field by a clear two length margin rounding the home turn.

On Shoot Out’s immediate inside was the ever green nine-year-old Zipping. Jockey Nick Hall had made a persistent effort to push the Robert Hickmott trained gelding up underneath the neck of the Queensland visitor.

The field of stars balanced up at the 450 metre mark with runners spread right across the track.

Zipping had managed to race through to the inside of Shoot Out and Hall immediately gave the old stager a couple of cuts with the whip.

Mark Kavanagh’s stable star Shocking had tracked Zipping and Shoot Out around the home turn and in the early part of the straight, but was now searching for clear galloping room to their inside as the field ran towards the 300 metre pole.

Zipping and Shoot Out surged to the front beyond the 300 metres mark with out wider on the track Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy chiming in with a well-timed run. Shocking for Michael Rodd had persisted with an inside run and had moved to within a length of Zipping.

Hall and Katsidis threw everything at their respective mounts over the final furlong, with Zipping fighting on like a caged lion to hold off the challenge of Shocking to his inside and Shoot Out who had gone stride for stride with Zipping for the entire Flemington straight.

Zipping held a long head margin over Shocking at the post with Shoot Out a further half head back in third.

Super mare Typhoon Tracy ran out of puff over the concluding stages to finish in fifth placing just behind Metal Bender who wound up fourth.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Part Owner Nick Williams: “He’s a marvel … he really is. He’s won two Group Ones now - one when he’s eight and one when he’s nine and he’s not finished yet.

“Maybe he’s showing us that we’re all racing them too young … we’ve got to let them mature.

“The Cox Plate is his aim and he showed today he is on target.

“There’s a horse that wears the famous Dato Tan Chin Nam colours (So You Think) that may have a thing to say about that race, but he’s certainly shown he can compete with the others.

“I’d ask any bookmaker out there if they’d like to ring me with that $35 they’re offering for the Cox Plate, you know how to find me.

“In the last two Cox Plates he’s run second and third. Two years ago he was beaten by a superior Michael Rodd ride on Maldivian and last year he was beaten by a great Glen Boss ride. Let’s hope he can win this year with a great Nick Hall ride.

“He’s still in the Cup (Melbourne Cup) and as long as the horse is happy I couldn’t definitely say he won’t run, but I can absolutely assure you the Cox Plate is his aim. “

Jockey Nick Hall: “It’s fantastic. There’s nothing better than winning Group races for the Williams family. It’s such a thrill.

“He drew a good gate today and it wasn’t necessarily to his advantage. He has to get clear running and be up and going by the turn otherwise he can find trouble.

“He was strongest on the line. He was never going to get beaten on the line.
He doesn’t know he’s nine.

“I’m looking forward to being on board with him no matter what he goes to.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Zipping): 13.00 out to 17.00.
Favourite Shoot Out 3.70 out to 5.00. Finished third.

Horse to Follow: Metal Bender turned in a fantastic Caulfield Cup trial finishing on the heels of the placegetters. Ridden with cover for the first time this preparation, the son of Danasinga finished well over the final 200 metres to run fourth.

Adding another dimension to his racing pattern by being ridden back in the field, the Chris Waller trained gelding will start towards the top of the betting market for the Caulfield Cup in two week’s time.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Prior to the running of the race trainer Mr C Waller advised that Metal Bender (NZ) would be ridden quiet today and an announcement was made. Metal Bender (NZ) settled towards the rear of the field.

Prior to correct weight S Katsidis rider of Shoot Out, third placegetter, viewed the Stewards film before deciding not to lodge an objection.

Descarado (NZ) raced wide without cover.

Metal Bender (NZ) was held up rounding the home turn and had difficulty obtaining clear running in the straight until the 200m.

Shocking was held up for clear running in the home straight before gaining clear running inside the 200m.

S Katsidis rider of Shoot Out was fined the sum of $500 under the provisions of AR137A(5)(a)(ii) for using his whip eight times prior to the 100m.

In assessing penalty Stewards took into account S Katsidis had only breached this rule on one occasion since the inception of this rule.

N Hall rider of Zipping was fined the sum of $3000 under the provisions of AR137A(5)(a)(ii) for using his whip nine times prior to the 100m, five of which were consecutive.

In assessing penalty Stewards took into account that it was a Group 1 event and that N Hall had previously offended in similar circumstances in the Australia Cup.

S Arnold (Dariana) explained that his mount travelled well throughout the race however on straightening his mount failed to respond. A subsequent veterinary examination of Dariana revealed no abnormalities.

C Williams (Monaco Consul NZ)) reported that his mount hung in quite badly during the event and a subsequent veterinary examination after the race revealed no abnormalities.

D Dunn (Descarado (NZ)) reported after the race that in his opinion the gelding did not pull up well after the race and a subsequent veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

A post-race veterinary examination of Buccellati (GB) revealed the horse had been galloped on the off-hind leg and the near-fore leg.

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