We’re off to Caulfield on Saturday for another quality ten-race program that is highlighted by the time-honoured Zipping Classic!
The Zipping Classic is always a fascinating race, with stayers that have been set for the race often joined by Melbourne Cup contestants, and that has proven to be the case again in 2023.
You can find my complete 2023 Zipping Classic Day Tips below.
Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) – 12:10pm AEDT
Eneeza showed some ability on debut at Flemington, and I’m confident that she can convert her first race win on Zipping Classic Day.
The Exceed And Excel filly attracted some support in betting prior to the Group 3 Ottawa Stakes, and she hit the line to finish second behind Karavas.
With improvement for that experience, she can go one better this week.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Eneeza
Become An MRC Member Handicap (1800m) – 12:40pm AEDT
Starianne takes further improvement into this contest, and I am happy to give her another chance.
The Sebring mare finished fourth in Group 1 company most notably last time in, and she returned to strike in BM78 company at Cranbourne.
While she only managed to finish midfield at Flemington last time out, she is a horse that tends to enjoy big improvement after her second-up run, and the 1800m this week looks ideal.
Suggested Bet: No. 9 Starianne
Whispering Angel Handicap (2400m) – 1:10pm AEDT
Cadmus has returned to the races in smart form this time, and he strikes another winnable race at Caulfield on Zipping Classic Day.
The talented import didn’t make much of an impression on debut for the Freedman yard back in April and was immediately put away, but he resumed in October to record a nice win in BM64 company out at Sale.
Since then, he has finished second behind Rebadge at The Valley and won a decent BM70 race over the Cox Plate route, and something like this looks the next logical target for him.
Suggested Bet: No. 11 Cadmus
Listed Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m) – 1:45pm AEDT
This shapes as an open edition of the Twilight Glow Stakes with plenty of winning chances, but I am going to have something on Miraval Rose.
Miraval Rose has made just three appearances at the races since debuting but is yet to turn in a poor performance, and resumed last month to record an easy win out at Kyneton.
She went within the flare of a nostril of winning the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes at her latest, and she steps out this week in peak order.
Jordie Childs keeps the ride, and the filly is drawn ideally in barrier 4.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Miraval Rose
Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) – 2:20pm AEDT
Ain’tnodeeldun really has returned to his best form this time in, and the Eclipse Stakes looks another beautiful race for him.
Injury has plagued much of his career, but Anthony & Sam Freedman have been patient with him, and it has paid dividends this time in, with Ain’tnodeeldun winning each of his last three starts, highlighted by the JRA Cup at The Valley last time out.
He’s about a month between starts, but there is no doubt that he finds his best over 1800m.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Ain’tnodeeldun
Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) – 3pm AEDT
This looms as a competitive edition of the Kevin Heffernan Stakes, but I like Vilana dropping back in class, and at peak fitness.
Vilana is yet to strike in three starts back from a break, but he hasn’t been disgraced around some good horses and in some good races, and he was last seen finishing just over three lengths behind Magic Time in the Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
He loses nothing with Jamie Kah jumping into the saddle this week, and barrier 6 looks ideal.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Vilana
Group 2 Neds Sandown Guineas (1600m) – 3:40pm AEDT
Arkansaw Kid has returned some lovely performances during his three-year-old season, and the Neds Sandown Guineas looks an ideal feature race for him.
The Harry Angel colt won the Gothic Stakes here at Caulfield second-up from a spell, and he has since finished just off the pace in both the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the Blue Sapphire.
I can’t wait to see him out to the mile for the first time, and the booking of Mark Zahra certainly doesn’t hinder his chances.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Arkansaw Kid
Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) – 4:20pm AEDT
There’s a case to be made for a few of them in this year’s Zipping Classic field, and I thought that Serpentine was a very interesting runner stepping out after a Melbourne Cup.
The Galileo gelding has produced some very nice performances since transferring to the care of Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott this year, winning up in Brisbane during the winter, and fighting out the finish of three races this time, prior to the Melbourne Cup.
He led them up at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November and just didn’t see out the 3200m, but similar tactics in this race, under in-form hoop Mickey Dee, and he could catch them napping!
Suggested Bet: No. 6 Serpentine
Group 3 Summoned Stakes (1600m) – 5pm AEDT
Revolutionary Miss returned to winning form at Cranbourne last weekend, and I’m keen to stick with her when she backs up in the Summoned Stakes.
The Russian Revolution mare has been a great horse for Peter & Paul Snowden since making her debut, performing well in top line company throughout her nineteen starts and picking off some lovely races.
This is a rise in class from last week’s race, but she is hard fit, and the 1600m does look ideal at this point of her prep.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Revolutionary Miss
Listed Doveton Stakes (1200m) – 5:40pm AEDT
Jigsaw was a late scratching from last weekend’s Apache Cat Classic at Cranbourne, a race in which I was quite keen on his chances, and I am happy to stick with him in this weekend’s Doveton Stakes.
The Manhattan Rain gelding went to another level during his four-year-old, recording impressive wins in the Australia Stakes and the Neds Hareeba Stakes most notably, while he has finished fifth at each of his first two runs back this time.
This is easily the weakest task that he has been set, and he looks to be in peak order for it.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Jigsaw