One of Australia’s most popular racehorses Zipping has officially been retired from racing, fans given the clue to his exit from the racing scene after the veteran galloper was not among the 2011 Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate 2011 nominations that were released yesterday.

Prepared by Robert Hickmott for their prominent owner Lloyd Williams since late 2009, Danehill gelding Zipping (out of Grand Lodge mare Social Scene) has been one of the best performing weight-for-age gallopers of the past few seasons.

Zipping entered the history books during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival last year, the great old bay recording his unprecedented fourth successive victory in the Group 2 Sandown Classic (2400m).

In honour of the $4.5 million earner, this year Racing Victoria has renamed the Sandown Classic as the 2011 Zipping Classic, the weight-for-age feature to run on November 12.

Despite having been the picture of consistency since winning on debut at the Gold Coast for their inaugural trainer Graeme Rogerson in July of 2004, Zipping didn’t become an elite level champion until last year when he narrowly defeated Sirmione in the Group 1 Darley Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in March, 2010.

He would go on to become a dual Group 1 winner thanks to a shock victory over former Melbourne Cup winner, the also now-retired Shocking, in the 2010 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington last October.

Both of the horse’s Group 1 wins came under the preparation of Hickmott, Zipping having been formerly trained by Rogerson (July 2004 – November 2007) and then John Sadler (November 2007 – October 2009).

Among Zipping’s other celebrated achievements were his three fourth place finishes in the Melbourne Cup (2006, 2007, 2010) as well as his three minor placings in the iconic Cox Plate when second in 2010, third in 2009 and second in 2008.

The genuine galloper that had developed a cult-like following among the racing fans during the twilight of his career, Zipping’s swansong race turned out to be his disappointing 10^th place finish behind Peter Moody’s former Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 12, 2011.

Having suffered a serious leg injury during this summer run, Zipping failed to recover and will see out the rest of his years in the paddock.

At the end of a decorated career, Zipping’s record stands at 16 wins, three seconds and seven third place finishes from 47 starts for $4,531,195 in prize money.