Jye McNeil says wet track an unknown for Zipping Classic contender Serpentine

Serpentine has the right form and colours to win the Group 2 Zipping Classic but jockey Jye McNeil has one nagging concern.

Serpentine has the right form and colours to be effective in the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) on Saturday at Caulfield but for the unknown weather factor.

Reigning Zipping Classic winner Jye McNeil, who rode Military Mission to victory for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott last year, hopes to figure in the finish again.

Unlike Military Mission, who ploughed through a Soft 7 surface last year, Serpentine has saved best performances for dry tracks.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Serpentine has been runner-up twice in 12 starts on rain-affected ground.

“It’s a bit of an unknown,” McNeil said.

“We’ll wait and see if it comes and how it all pans out.”

• Four-Play, Quadzilla: $200 betting strategy for Caulfield

Caulfield received a good drink of rain early in the week before 48 hours of sunny and drying conditions.

Up to 15mm of rain is forecast for Caulfield on Saturday.

“With those types of forecasts you never know how it’s all going to pan out, you got to stay optimistic, turn up, do your job, give them every chance and see how you go,” McNeil said.

Caulfield track manager Sam Bennetts said the Bureau Of Meteorology has forecast 90 per cent chance of rain.

Serpentine will be looking for a drier surface on Saturday. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images

“It’s going to be a race by race proposition to see where the track is at and how it handles the moisture,” Bennetts said.

“If the forecast comes to fruition, I’m confident if we don’t get a drop between now and when we inspect the track in the morning it will be a Good 4 and then as the rain comes through … generally speaking, we get a downgrade every two millimetres of rainfall.

“We can only play what’s in front of us and we’ve got a good drying day, we’ll be in as good a spot to handle the rainfall as possible.”

• Early Oil for Zipping Classic day: $15 value bet

Serpentine was runner-up to subsequent Melbourne Cup placegetter Okita Soushi two starts back in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) and then finished fourth in an unsuitably run, stop start Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington.

“I haven’t really been a part of that (recent form) but I worked him here Tuesday morning and he seemed very well in himself and he moved well,” McNeil said.

“If things suit him, I’m sure he’ll be competitive.”

Jye McNeil riding Military Mission to victory in last year’s Zipping Classic in heavy conditions. Picture: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Serpentine is a $19 chance with Ladbrokes.

Favourite Arapaho ($4.80), Kingswood ($6) and Naval College ($6.50) head the market from Berkeley Square ($10), Muramasa ($11) and Little Mix ($11).

“There’s a few in good form and difficult to beat,” McNeil said.

“Also, at the same time, being the back end of spring it’s fairly open.”

Serpentine is trying to become the seventh Sandown/Zipping Classic winner since 2007 to carry the iconic Lloyd Williams navy blue and white jacket to victory.

Iron horse Zipping completed an unprecedented four-peat (2007-2010) of the Group 2 rebadged in his honour while Tanby (2012) and The Taj Mahal (2017-18) also saluted in the Williams colours.

Originally published as Jye McNeil says wet track an unknown for Zipping Classic contender Serpentine