Following an upset win at Flemington on Mackinnon Stakes Day, connections of the underrated Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Savvy Oak could roll the dice again running the galloper in the Zipping Classic 2019 this Saturday.

Savvy Oaks is among the Mackinnon Stakes Day graduates nominated for the 2019 Zipping Classic. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Following the final Melbourne Cup Carnival meeting, the spring racing action moves to Ladbrokes Park Hillside at Sandown this weekend for the always popular Zipping Classic Day.

Heading the day’s racing is the Group 2 $300,000 Zipping Classic (2400m), nominations for the weight-for-age showdown attracting 14 early entries.

Among the potential runners in this year’s Zipping Classic field is the Kiwi-trained Savabeel four-year-old Savvy Oak.

Best known for his second behind Qafila at big odds in the Group 1 SA Derby (2500m) back in May, Savvy Oak was back in form at a big price again improving on a dismal spring prep to win a BenchMark 90 over 2000m at Flemington last weekend.

Having carried 58kg to the 1.25 length victory on Mackinnon Day, the gelding could rise in grade and distance on successive Saturday’s for a shot at the Zipping Classic.

“We’re not kidding ourselves. We know that we’re jumping from a Benchmark 90 to a Group II race and we’ll be badly off at the weights,” co-trainer Busuttin told Racenet this week.

“But I think he’s better than a 90-rated horse.

“Let’s be honest. They are mostly old horses out of form that are trying to get their way back into form.

“They are all very good horses and they’ve all had a great run. One of them probably will put its hand up but they’re certainly not in career-best form.

“It’s hard to turn your back on the race to be honest.”

The latest all-in Zipping Classic odds at Ladbrokes.com.au list the last start winner as a $16 chance with futures betting on the event led by Humidor ($3.60).

Once a regular rival to the mighty Winx, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace’s Teofilo seven-year-old also ran last weekend when finishing ninth behind the class Irish mare Magic Wand in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m).

Humidor has failed to finish in the money in all six of his runs this year with his last top three run being behind Winx for her historical fourth Cox Plate back in October of 2018.

The bookies are taking no chances with the weight-for-age great this weekend however with Humidor dropping back in class for the Zipping Classic run.

The sole mare nominated to take on the boys in the event is the Grahame Begg-trained Miss Siska, the six-year-old daughter of So You Think another Mackinnon Stakes Day graduate looking at a quick back-up.

Should Miss Siska accept she will be running three times in as many weeks.

On Derby Day she finished midfield behind the Kiwi Melody Belle in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) before finished runner-up to Oceanex in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) seven days later.

Other headline horses heading towards the Zipping Classic 2019 include the French-bred Gallic Chieftain who ran second in this year’s The Metropolitan and Ventura Storm for Lindsay Park.

Click here for the latest all-in Zipping Classic 2019 odds ahead of Wednesday’s final acceptances.

2019 Zipping Classic Nominations