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2016 Zipping Classic Winner Beautiful Romance Gets the Bob
In an extraordinary day for the powerhouse Godolphin stable the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained mare Beautiful Romance from the UK enjoyed a narrow win by the bob of the head in the Zipping Classic 2016 at Ladbrokes Park.
English raider Beautiful Romance narrowly won the 2016 Zipping Classic at Sandown in just her second Australian start for Godolphin. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Earlier on the card the Charlie Appleby-trained Qewy won the Sandown Cup for the stable, before the local John O’Shea-trained Morton’s Fork saluted for Godolphin and the punters in the Sandown Guineas.
One event later the meeting’s marquee event saw Godolphin take out a third feature race win with a third trainer in the lucrative $300,000 Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m).
Once again the Melbourne Cup form out of the world’s richest handicap stacked up in the weight-for-age Zipping Classic.
In the famous Flemington two mile clash, New Approach mare Beautiful Romance did a terrific job holding on to run seventh to Almandin as a $61 roughie.
She jumped shorter in betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for her second run down under in the Zipping Classic, Glyn Schofield taking over for Damian Lane in the saddle of the $5 hopeful who rose in weight from 51.5kg in the Cup to 57kg.
Schofield had her showing early speed in the mile and a half classic up in the first four as the Michael Bell-trained fellow English raider Big Orange rolled forward to his favourite position to lead the field around.
Keeping him honest in second was roughie hope Tristram’s Sun ridden by Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy, just ahead of Beautiful Romance who settled nicely in third.
The reigning Zipping Classic winner Who Shot Thebarman meanwhile got the trail in fourth, while Almoonqith was holding position midfield one away from the rail.
With 1000m left to go, Big Orange still was leading in a good gallop and the three-year-old in the mix So Si Bon had the ground to make-up sitting fourth on the inside.
As they hit the straight Tristram’s Sun tackled Big Orange, who dug deep and pinged again staying in touch.
So Si Bon and Who Shot Thebarman both cut the corner, while Almoonqith was right out on his own coming hard with his run.
It was three across the field for the closing stages and just as the Lindsay Park-trained Melbourne Cup sixth-placed seven-year-old Almoonqith ($5.50) and Damien Oliver looked to have won, the photo Zipping Classic result showed Beautiful Romance ($5) got the bob.
Finishing off the Zipping Classic trifecta in a close third was the brave in defeat Big Orange ($5.50).
The very dour Zipping Classic winner proved fitter for her Melbourne Cup run and was able to take home the consolation prize in a run that impressed Schofield.
“She showed in the Cup she was really tough so I came here with a lot of confidence,” he said.
“Half way around the corner we got tightened for room and she didn’t enjoy that and lost a little momentum.
“But she found a nice split in the run and kept coming strong to the line.
“She’s unbelievably fit and unbelievably strong.”
Godolphin’s Victorian General Manager Andy Makiv was thrilled with the result not only in the Zipping Classic, but across the entire day for the stable and the three trainers.
“It’s a great achievement and wonderful for Godolphin,” he said.
“She [Beautiful Romance] was very brave in the Melbourne Cup…and the form from the Cup into this race often holds up.
“She raced right up to it and got the money which is fantastic.
“For Saeed to get the job done is also fantastic. It’s been quite an extraordinary day.
“We’re thrilled and delighted.”
As to futures plans for Beautiful Romance, Makiv said the Godolphin boss Sheikh Mohammed would do right by the mare and that could include keeping her in Australia.
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2016 Zipping Classic Results & Finishing Order
Sandown Race 7 – 12/11/2016
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE (GB) | Saeed Bin Suroor | Glyn Schofield | – | 5 | 57kg | $5 |
| 2 | 3 | ALMOONQITH (USA) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Damien Oliver | 0.1L | 4 | 59kg | $5.50 |
| 3 | 2 | BIG ORANGE (GB) | Michael Bell | Damian Lane | 0.3L | 2 | 59kg | $5.50 |
| 4 | 8 | SO SI BON | Robbie Laing | Craig Williams | 4.3L | 8 | 50.5kg | $6 |
| 5 | 1 | WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 4.5L | 1 | 59kg | $3.70F |
| 6 | 6 | TRANSFER ALLOWANCE | Peter Roche | Chris Symons | 7.5L | 3 | 59kg | $151 |
| 7 | 4 | SECRET NUMBER (GB) | Saeed Bin Suroor | Stephen Baster | 27.5L | 6 | 59kg | $8 |
| 8 | 5 | TRISTRAM’S SUN (NZ) | Robbie Laing | Kerrin McEvoy | 57.5L | 7 | 59kg | $101 |
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