Gold Coast trainer John Petersen believes Zippy Lou will need to be at the top of her game to topple in-form sprinter Essington in the Davking Handicap at Doomben.
Petersen is confident Zippy Lou can be competitive when the four-year-old steps up in distance to 1350 metres for the first time this preparation on Saturday.
“She’ll need to be competitive in this race if she’s to race against the better fillies and mares during the Brisbane winter carnival,” Petersen said.
“At this stage the Winter Stakes is in the mix for her but I’d like to see her step up in distance further to 1600 metres.
“She’s lost all her pace nowadays and she’s been getting back in her races and running home.”
Zippy Lou conceded 5.5 kilograms to Hull City when an unlucky third in a 1200-metre fillies and mares class six at Eagle Farm two weeks ago.
“She carried a lot of weight that day and had a very wide barrier and then ran off the track in the straight,” Petersen said.
“Luke (Rolls) hit her with the whip in the right hand and she ducked out sharply.”
Gold Coast rider Matt Palmer will replace Rolls and can use the whip in either hand if required.
“I was hoping to book Jason Taylor because he’s ridden her before but he’s out suspended,” Petersen said.
“Matt does a fair bit of riding for me at the track each morning so we’ve decided to put him on.”
Petersen has a great deal of respect for Essington who will be attempting to maintain an unblemished record this campaign following two recent wins at Eagle Farm.
“Essington is the one to beat. He’s got a great record and has won his last four starts,” Petersen said.
“My mare will need to be at the top of her game and will need some luck to beat him but she’s racing well enough.
“A lot of her runs have been in the wet and she’s better if the sting is out of the ground.”
Essington, a $50,000 buy at a Lloyd Williams dispersal sale, is on trial for a trip to Sydney for the autumn.
Trainer Darryl Hansen is keen to test the four-year-old in the Group Two Ajax Stakes at Rosehill in two weeks before next month’s Group Three Doncaster Prelude (1600m) at Randwick before returning home for the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June.
AAP TURF
