Lindsay Park stayer Ventura Storm is one of three runners attempting to win the weight-for-age Zipping Classic after running in the Melbourne Cup.
Yucatan, the beaten favourite, Ventura Storm and Who Shot Thebarman all ran in this year’s Cup and are among 16 entries for Saturday’s 2400m-Group Two race at Sandown.
Ventura Storm fared best of the trio in the Cup finishing 10th, just ahead of Yucatan who was 11th while Who Shot Thebarman finished 17th.
Saturday’s race was originally known as the Sandown Cup before being changed to weight-for-age and renamed the Sandown Classic in 1999.
It was again renamed in 2011 to recognise four-time winner, the Lloyd Williams-owned Zipping who won from 2007 to 2010.
Williams and his son Nick have five entries in this year’s Zipping – including Yucatan, Homesman, Midterm, Sir Isaac Newton and 2017 winner The Taj Mahal.
Tom Dabernig, co-trainer of Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner Ventura Storm, said the gelding had come through last week’s Melbourne Cup well with the stable believing he failed to runout the 3200 metres.
“He pulled up fine so we thought we’d give him another try before putting him out,” co-trainer Tom Dabernig said.
“Mark Zahra rode him well but he just didn’t stay the trip so we’ll keep him to 2400 metres maximum as of now.”
The Melbourne Cup has proven a good guide to the Zipping Classic.
Since Zipping won the first of his Sandown Classics in 2007, there have been seven winners to have their previous starts in the Melbourne Cup.
* Zipping Classic winners since 2007 and their finishing position in the Melbourne Cup
2007 Zipping – 4th to Efficient
2008 Zipping – 9th Viewed
2009 Zipping – did not start
2010 Zipping – 4th Americain
2011 Americain – 4th Dunadin
2012 Tanby – did not start
2013 Sertorius – did not start
2014 Au Revoir – 8th Protectionist
2015 Who Shot Thebarman – 11th Prince Of Penzance
2016 Beautiful Romance – 7th Almandin
2017 The Taj Mahal – did not start
