Zipping has won the 2010 Sandown Classic at Betfair Park, making it four straight wins of the 2,400m staying race for the Lloyd Williams-owned veteran galloper.

While the field was originally made up of eight quality stayers, only five horses lined up for the jump at the Sandown Hillside Racetrack after it was downgraded to a Heavy 9. Peter Snowden’s Kidnapped, Bart Cummings’ Faint Perfume and the John Hawkes trained Rainbow Styling were all scratched from the Group 2 field.

Jockey Nick Hall moved Zipping to the lead after jumping from barrier 1. About half way through the race Hall allowed Danny Nikolic on board Exceptionally to move up and take the lead. Rounding the final corner into the home straight Exceptionally held the lead, but over the last 400m Zipping kicked into top gear and powered away to win by 2 lengths and make history. Exceptionally held onto second place from a strong finishing Manighar.

The fourth straight win in the $350,000 Sandown Classic means that Zipping, trained by Robert Hickmott, joins the ranks of Manikato, Tie The Knot and Lord as the only horses in history to win the same group race in four or more consecutive years.

Zipping was the firm favourite to take out the race today, and not just for sentimental reasons. 9-year-old Zipping has been in career best form this spring carnival with a win in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m), second in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and fourth in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Owner Lloyd Williams’ son, Nick Williams said, “He is a freak of nature, he is so tough, and there are not many like him”

“He’ll choose to retire. He’s done that much for us, that he can choose whether he wants to race or not,” he said.

Zipping will return for the 2011 Autumn Racing Carnival to defend his 2010 Australian Cup win, while his stable has not ruled out another Spring campaign as a 10-year-old and even a shot at a fifth straight Sandown Classic.

2010 Sandown Classic Finishing Order