「升平」衛冕成功輕取沙丘園經典賽
Zipping made it back-to-back victories in the Group Two Sandown Classic when he stormed home late to tip out Hong Kong-bound Douro Valley in the weight-for-age feature Saturday.
Michael Rodd let the Danehill seven-year-old, sent out $2.05 favourite, drop out to last of the nine runners and he was still last into the straight before unleashing a powerful finishing burst to score by a long head from Douro Valley ($11).
New Zealander Red Ruler ($7.50), who surprisingly led, was three-quarters of a length away third.
"I probably rode him a little bit too confidently," said Rodd who picked up the mount as Danny Nikolic, who rode him to finish ninth in the Melbourne Cup, and owner Lloyd Williams' number one stable rider Steven Arnold were both under suspension.
"I visualised that I might have to get on my bike at the half-mile (800m) if they went steady but I was pretty surprised when they went past the winning post the first time, the tempo was quite solid.
"I gave him a squeeze coming down the dip. The final furlong (200m) is the best part of his race and I just had to keep at him and at him."
The win capped off a great spring carnival for Rodd who won both the Caulfield Guineas on Whobegotyou and the Cox Plate on Maldivian for trainer Mark Kavanagh.
Rodd has also had plenty of success in the Zipping colours - navy blue, white armbands and cap - of Williams and regards them as lucky for him.
He won the 2006 Victoria Derby and the 2007 Melbourne Cup on Efficient for Williams.
For Williams' private trainer John Sadler it was his third Sandown Classic success as he took over the team from Graeme Rogerson only days before the 2007 race.
Sadler trained the 1990 winner Pressman's Choice when the race was known as the Sandown Cup.
Zipping is the first horse to win the race back-to-back for 77 years, the last to do it being Second Wind (1930-31) when it was known as the Williamstown Cup.
Williams was not at Sandown but his racing manager Jim Bowler spoke glowingly of Zipping, who has now won 12 of his 34 starts, and said Rodd had given him a very patient ride from the outside barrier.
"He's a wonderful horse, he tries his heart out," he said.
The gelding hadn't won since last year's race but in six starts since has managed Saturday's win as well as a third in the Turnbull Stakes and a second in the Cox Plate.
Danny O'Brien was disappointed that Douro Valley was beaten Saturday but he and the owners are still keen to press on to the Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin on December 14.
"He's racing in the best form of his career. He won the Yalumba and he was fresh for today as it's always been the intention to go to Hong Kong if he gets an invitation," he said.
"It is not an afterthought, he's been trained conservatively to go up there and be competitive."
O'Brien said the Encosta De Lago seven-year-old had been inoculated once and was to have another shot Sunday.
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