Two weight-for-age hopefuls are battling for top spot in 2015 Zipping Classic betting this weekend at Sandown with Dandino the narrow favourite on the short back-up.

Dandino is narrow favourite to go back-to-back with two wins in as many weeks in Saturday’s Zipping Classic 2015. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

A final field of eight faces off in Saturday’s $300,000 Group 2 Quayclean Zipping Classic (2400m), due to jump as Sandown Race 5 at 3:25pm (AEST) and available at Best Tote or SP + 20% only at Ladbrokes.com.au.

The early top fancy and market mover at $3.10 (in from $3.30) is the Darren Weir-trained Dandino, a veteran nine-year-old who was balloted out of the $6.2 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) this spring.

Runner-up in the 2013 Caulfield Cup before a fifth to Fiorente in the ‘race that stops a nation’ when still internationally-trained two years ago, Dandino was targeting another Melbourne Cup run this spring.

Runner-up to Almoonqith in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) two back, the Dansili stallion missed out on a spot in the 24 starter Melbourne Cup field on the first Tuesday of November.

His Ballarat-based trainer Darren Weir won the two mile classic anyway with 101/1 shot Prince Of Penzance, before Dandino raced at Flemington last Saturday to score the consolation win in the Group 3 Queen’s Cup (2600m).

On a seven day turnaround he runs over 2400m this weekend in his Sandown debut, Dwayne Dunn booked for the ride from barrier four.

Hot on Dandino’s heels in the Zipping Classic betting markets at $3.50 is the David Hayes & Tom Dabernig-trained 2014 ATC Oaks winner Rising Romance.

She has a solid mile and a half record of one win and two seconds from four previous starts over Saturday’s distance, the five-year-old Ekraar mare coming off a brave second to French raider Gailo Chop in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) from October 31 on Derby Day.

Carrying 57kg again on the weekend from the outside barrier (8), Rising Romance has Damian Lane retaining the ride.

Occupying the third line of betting at $4.60 for the Zipping Classic this season is then the Chris Waller-trained Who Shot Thebarman, third in last year’s Melbourne Cup.

Twelve months on the now seven-year-old son of Yamanin Vital ran in the world’s richest handicap again but could only manage to run 11^th beaten four lengths.

Dropping back in distance for Saturday, Who Shot Thebarman is out to break a lengthy winning drought with his last victory being in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington in October of last year.

Rounding out the single figure fancies at $7 is then Weir’s other runner Tall Ship.

The Sea The Stars gelding is undefeated over the distance with two previous 2400m wins, the European import coming off an eighth to Awesome Rock in the Listed Cup Day Plate (1800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

At $10 the other best fancied mare in the mix is Kirramosa in barrier six with Kerrin McEvoy replacing Chris Parnham in the saddle of the Alamosa five-year-old who was third behind The Offer in the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) over the distance last time out.

See below for the latest Zipping Classic 2015 odds then head to Ladbrokes.com.au to lock in Best Tote or SP + 20% on the Group 2 feature before jump on Saturday!

2015 Zipping Classic Betting