Betting markets have now opened at bookies around the country for this Saturday’s headline showdown, the 2011 Zipping Classic at Sandown, with Americain unsurprisingly installed as the odds-on favourite to win.
Americain is odds-on favourite to win the 2011 Zipping Classic this Saturday
Although the French raider failed to go back-to-back in the world’s richest handicap and win the Melbourne Cup last Tuesday, their goliath effort to come from near last in the field and widest on the home turn to finish just one and a half lengths away fourth saw them lose few admirers.
Undoubtedly Americain ran the best final 400 metres of any Melbourne Cup horse this year, his sensational sectional times proving this, and they will get their chance at a minor consolation prize in the $350,000 Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) on Saturday.
While the Melbourne Cup over the two-miles is a truly testing race, all reports coming out of camp Americain are that they have come through the Flemington feature well.
As such Luxbet have Americain at the top of their Zipping Classic odds at a short price of $1.45.
The Zipping Classic was renamed this year in honour of the every gallant Zipping who won the past four editions of the race formerly known as the Sandown Classic.
Three of Zipping’s four Sandown Classic victories came directly after a start in the iconic Melbourne Cup when 4th in 2010, 9th in 2008 and 4th in 2007, the now retired Lloyd Williams-owned champion having missed the 2009 Melbourne Cup.
On Saturday Americain is out to repeat Zipping’s feats from last year and 2008, backing up from a Melbourne Cup fourth to emerge the Sandown Classic winner becoming the sixth horse in the past 20 years to win the Classic after a Melbourne Cup start.
Following Americain in the Zipping Classic markets at Luxbet are then Lloyd Williams’ Mourayan ($4.20), the Luca Cumani-trained Manighar ($8) coming off a Melbourne Cup fifth and Lamasery ($9), with Brian Ellison’s Melbourne Cup disappointment Saptapadi (16th) the $101 roughie of the field.
Sydney trainer David Vandyke harbours no illusions that Americain is not the horse to beat in the Zipping Classic this year, but is hoping the run will give him a solid indication of how far his progressive Commands gelding Lamasery can go in the autumn.
“Americain has to come back from 3200 metres to 2400 metres in less than two weeks,” Vandkye pointed out.
“At the weights and given his for Amercain should win this but it’s definitely a query.”
Having missed out on a start in this year’s Melbourne Cup, Lamasery has enjoyed plenty of success this season with two Group 3 wins in Sydney, a third in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) and a Melbourne Cup Day victory in the Listed Johnnie Walker Stakes (1800m).
Lamasery is being considered for the 2012 The BMW in the autumn
Originally Vandkye considered running Lamasery in the $125,000 Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) on Saturday instead, but opted for the weight-for-age Zipping Classic.
He is eyeing off bigger prizes during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, most notably the $2.25 million Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 7, 2012.
“If we had of run in the Eclipse we wouldn’t have learned much,” Vandyke said.
“In the Zipping we’re going to see if he can mix it at weight-for-age and if he can run a strong 2400 metres.
“I don’t think the BMW would be much stronger than the Zipping Classic given that Americain would have to be the best stayer at level weights in the country.”
To get in on the Zipping Classic betting action and view the full odds on all of the Sandown races this Saturday, head to Luxbet today.
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2011 Zipping Classic Odds
Sandown Race 6 – 3:30pm (AEDT) – 12/11/2011
| # | Horse (Barrier) | Odds* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Americain (5) | 1.45 Luxbet |
| 2 | Mourayan (3) | 4.20 Luxbet |
| 3 | Manighar (2) | 8.00 Luxbet |
| 4 | Lamasery (4) | 9.00 Luxbet |
| 5 | Saptapadi (1) | 101.00 Luxbet |
*Fixed Win Odds are subject to change – see Luxbet for updates and to bet now!
