Melbourne Cup scratching Mourayan will be owner Lloyd Williams’ only runner in Saturday’s Group Two Zipping Classic at Sandown.
With stablemates Tanby, who won the Bendigo Cup but was balloted out of the Melbourne Cup, and 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient sent to the spelling paddock, Mourayan will try for a consolation win at Sandown.
Stable representative Nick Williams said Mourayan was in sound order for Sandown.
“He’s perfect and all things being equal we’ll run him in the Zipping Classic,” he said.
Lloyd Williams has a formidable record in the 2400m weight-for-age race, formerly known as the Sandown Classic.
He won it with Legible in 2003 with stable favourite Zipping saluting four times in succession from 2007.
The multiple success of Zipping in the feature prompted the Melbourne Racing Club to change the race’s name.
Mourayan, an Alhaarth six-year-old entire, was a late scratching from the Melbourne Cup on the morning of the race because a hoof issue.
Saturday’s race promises to be strong this year with beaten Melbourne Cup favourite Americain to run as well as Manighar.
Gerald Mosse will make the trip from his Hong Kong base to again ride Americain who won the Moonee Valley Cup before his outstanding effort under 58kg to finish fourth, just 1-1/2 lengths behind the winner Dunaden in the Melbourne Cup.
Manighar, who ran third in last year’s Sandown Classic, also ran well in the Melbourne Cup to finish fifth.
Saptapadi, 16th in the Melbourne Cup, will run as will Lamasery who took out Tuesday’s Listed Johnny Walker Stakes (1800m) at Flemington.
Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Ironstein could also be a starter.
Lamasery missed the Bendigo Cup because of a minor leg infection but confirmed his class with his Melbourne Cup day win.
AAP TURF
