Zipping in for Cup spots
Collins trio hope to go one better than Lloyd’s racehorse
IF you are into omens, then a trio of Zippings will be worth following in tonight’s Melbourne Cup preludes at Sandown Park.
Lloyd Williams took out his sixth Melbourne Cup on Tuesday and used to own a star horse named Zipping, who ran fourth three times in the 3200m race.
While it is a thin link to Steven Collins’s trio of greyhounds running tonight, racing has produced quirkier things.
Zipping Hawk leads the chances for the Lara trainer in Race 4 tonight, having already won a Melbourne Cup prelude earlier this preparation.
Two starts back, the twoyear-old booked his place in the Cup heats with a dashing win over the track and 515m distance, before stepping up to 595m at Sandown last Thursday to put his second straight win together.
“He’s going great at the moment and confidence is a great thing in greyhounds,” Collins said.
“I think he’s a chance if he can jump like he has.
“We’ve had him and his brother in mind (for the Melbourne Cup) since we got them; we’ve only had them for three or four months.”
Sandown has provided five wins and six placings in Zipping Hawk’s career, the dimensions suiting the black dog.
“He’s a terrific dog at Sandown, he likes the two-turn track,” Collins said.
“He goes good there, so we’ve kept him there.
“He’s had a freshen up this week so hopefully he jumps well again.”
Meanwhile, brother Zipping Bronze runs in Race 7 and sister Zipping Maisy in Race 12, both looking to book their places in next week’s Melbourne Cup heats.
“Going in these preludes, it does give you a chance as an inclusion later if the others don’t nominate,” Collins said.
“Zipping Bronze can run the hands off a clock but he’s better over one turn rather than two. But when they’ve got the ability, you’ve got to run them.”