French stayer Americain heads a list of international horses entered for Sandown who are seeking a consolation prize for their unplaced Melbourne Cup runs.
Americain finished a luckless fourth when trying to defend his Melbourne Cup crown and only a track that is too hard will stop him from lining up in Saturday’s feature at Sandown.
The Luca Cumani-trained Manighar, who finished third in the Sandown Classic last year, and fellow English stayer Saptapadi are also among the entries for the race now named in honour of retired four-time winner Zipping.
Zipping will lead out the field, which is also expected to include former stablemate Mourayan who was scratched on the morning of the Melbourne Cup with a hoof injury.
New Zealanders Ginga Dude and Booming are also among the nine Zipping entries along with the Metropolitan placegetter Lamasery, Count Encosta and Queenslander Rundle.
Hong Kong-based jockey Gerald Mosse, who blamed himself for Americain’s defeat in last week’s Melbourne Cup, will return for Saturday’s ride.
He had previously been unbeaten on the son of Dynaformer in Australia with victories in the 2010 Geelong and Melbourne Cups and this year’s Moonee Valley Cup.
The Zipping Classic is a bridging race for Americain as he heads towards next month’s Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin.
Americain will run in the name of his French trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre in the Zipping and the Hong Kong Vase.
Owners Gerry Ryan and Kevin Bamford will appoint a new trainer for Americain after the Hong Kong Vase so he can have an autumn campaign in Australia.
“We’ve had interest from various trainers and we will look at them all and find the one most suitable,” Ryan said.
“We have a long way to go.”
Ryan said Americain had come through the Melbourne Cup in great order and is hopeful that he can run well in the Zipping Classic to warrant a Hong Kong assault.
“I saw him on Saturday and he’s very well, very fresh,” Ryan said.
“I would like to see him run on Saturday and hopefully he is very competitive. But he will only run providing the ground is not too hard.”
A flint-hard track seems unlikely with the forecast for rain on Tuesday and Wednesday and occasional showers on Thursday and Saturday.
Manighar, who finished fifth in the Melbourne Cup, would also appreciate some cushion in the track as would Saptapadi who was 16th in the Cup.
Entries for the Zipping have been extended until Tuesday.
The Sandown Guineas has attracted a strong list of 21 three-year-olds including Combat Kitty, Galah and Instinction, all impressive last start black-type winners during Melbourne Cup week.
Peter Snowden has an impressive Sandown Guineas record having won it with Caymans (2008) and Kidnapped (2009) while last year Chasse finished second to Pressday.
Galah posted his fourth win in five starts, landing the Carbine Club Stakes and looks Snowden’s best Guineas chance this year ahead of his other entry Mental, who has won three of six starts.
AAP TURF
