Carnival is just about over for Steel Zip

VETERAN sprinter Steel Zip is set to start his last Queensland winter carnival in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich on Saturday.

Steel Zip hasn’t run since mid-April with trainer Pat Duff deliberately avoiding the better sprinters over the major carnival races.

Now a nine-year-old, Steel Zip has been a fixture in winter carnival races since 2011 when he won the Listed Queensland Day Handicap.

He has had 51 starts in stakes and Magic Millions races over the years and has contested 29 winter carnival features.

Saturday will be the fourth time he has run in the Eye Liner (1350m) with his best effort a third in last year’s race behind Ninth legion.

Duff said he would pick and choose the races for Steel Zip during the latter part of the carnival.

“I will have a good look at who is also in the field. He worked very strongly on Saturday morning and he is ready to race,” Duff said.

“I think a race like the Ramornie at Grafton next month would suit him as well.”

Steel Zip has won $944,000 and a win in the Eye Liner would elevate him to the millionaire’s club.

There were 30 nominations for the Eye Liner with 14 entered for the Ipswich Cup (2150m), headed by the 2016 Brisbane Cup winner Benzini.