Early favourite Without A Fight has been scratched from Saturday’s Group 2 $750,000 Zipping Classic (2400m) field at Caulfield on vet’s advice opening up the end-of-spring staying showdown.

2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare looks a chance to return to winning form in Saturday’s 2022 Zipping Classic. Photo: Steve Hart.

Anthony & Sam Freedman’s import underwent a compulsory CT scan on his distal limbs this week, but was not passed fit to run due to discrepancies between the imagery taken prior to his Melbourne Cup run and now.

The rails-drawn top elect was coming off a 13^th on debut down under in the Group 1 $7.75 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m), and he was expected to improve sharply on that run down in grade and distance this weekend.

With the original favourite out, updated Zipping Classic odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au have fellow Melbourne Cup graduate Vow And Declare on top at a firming quote of $4.20.

Danny O’Brien’s veteran stayer won the 2019 edition of the ‘race that stops a nation’ and comes off a strong 10^th when just scoring some prize money in this year’s event.

The seven-year-old chestnut has been racing well all spring including his sixth when under two lengths off Durston in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in mid-October.

He comes into barrier two facing just eight rivals in the Zipping Classic field with the in-form John Allen coming aboard for the ride.

Close second favourite in Zipping Classic betting at $4.40 is the Kris Lees-trained Luncies into barrier three with Blake Shinn in the saddle.

It’s been a long time between drinks for the imported grey who has not won a race since May of last year at Hawkesbury.

He has been competitive in plenty since however putting together a host of frustrating second placings including at his latest start at Flemington on Stakes Day when runner-up in the Group 3 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m).

The Chris Waller-trained Desert Icon ($6) out to atone for his Moonee Valley Cup seventh in the wet getting firmer going at Caulfield and the consistent Persan from the Melbourne Cup winning stable of Ciaron Maher & David Eustace are also being kept safe in the markets.

In a wide open race the Michael Moroney-trained ten-year-old Sound ($9), fourth in the Queen Elizabeth on November 5, and another from the Waller stable, Kukeracha ($9) coming off a second in Newcastle’s The Beauford, are also at single-figures to take out the lucrative mile and a half feature of the weekend.

The 2022 Herald Sun Zipping Classic is set to run as Caulfield Race 7 at 4:20pm (AEDT) with full markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available here.

2022 Zipping Classic Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.