Zipping Classic 2019: Dal Harraild set to fulfil spring goal in Group 2 feature

Although Humidor and Southern France are fighting out favouritism for the Zipping Classic, co-trainer David Eustace said stablemate Dal Harraild has one key advantage over that pair.

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Although Humidor and Southern France are fighting out favouritism for the Zipping Classic, co-trainer David Eustace said stablemate Dal Harraild might have an advantage over that pair.

Eustace said Dal Harraild had been aimed at this race and it hadn’t been the main goal for the two well-fancied stablemates. TAB fixed odds has Southern France at $3.50 favourite in front of Humidor ($3.80), while Dal Harraild is $10.

“They’re all great chances,” Eustace said. “This has been Dal Harraild’s spring goal and that could be the deciding factor.”

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Dal Harraild could be the knockout chance in the Zipping Classic. Picture: Michael Klein

Last year Dal Harraild was narrowly beaten by The Taj Mahal in the Zipping Classic. Eustace pointed out that it would only be Dal Harraild’s fourth start this campaign.

He added Dal Harraild had not been starting well so they have taken the blinkers off to try and get him to take up a forward spot.

“He got too far back in the Geelong Cup and didn’t get involved in the race,” he said.

In contrast, Ciaron Maher and Eustace had decided to place the blinkers back on Humidor on the quick back up.

“He’s very effective when that’s been done in the past,” Eustace said.

“He almost beat Winx in a Cox Plate, which was a week after the Caulfield Cup. He’s had a long spring. Whether he’s capable of having one more run we don’t quite know but we’ll roll the dice and find out.”

Eustace said Southern France’s Australian debut, when he finished 19th in the Melbourne Cup, should be forgotten.

“Things didn’t pan out for him as the position he settled in wasn’t ideal,” he said. “The race developed into a sprint home from the top of the straight and he’s a horse who needs a genuine tempo and he worked home evenly. That run didn’t take a lot out of him.”
Grahame Begg said he was keen to test Miss Siska in the Zipping Classic over 2400m.

“She’s by So You Think and we’ve always thought she could run the distance,” he said. “This is a good opportunity to find out.”

FEATURE FOCUS

ZIPPING CLASSIC (2000m)

THE FACTORS

Track: Good 4. Rail: True. Weather: 18C, cloudy

THE SPEED

MISS SISKA is likely to lead. VENTURA STORM and CHAPADA can kick up from inside barriers.

HISTORY SAYS

In the past 10 years, horses who have competed in the Melbourne Cup have won seven of the past 12 Zipping Classics. The longest-priced winner in the past 15 years has been $8.

LATEST BETTING: TAB FIXED ODDS

THE BET STRATEGY

Try to find a betting outlet which groups the Maher/Eustace trio. If not, back Southern France the win with a saver on Humidor.

THE TRAINER

MIKE MORONEY

CHAPADA (R8, No.8 — $11)

“We wanted to get him up to a mile-and-a-half as he’s been working like he was getting dour. This will give us a line on what we do in the autumn.”

THE BEST CHANCES

SOUTHERN FRANCE ($3.60)

His Australian debut in the Melbourne Cup was a non-event as he wasn’t suited by the slow tempo. His UK staying form includes a second to Stradivarius and form around Cross Counter and Kew Gardens. That’s more than good enough to give him another chance.

HUMIDOR ($3.80)

Solid midfield effort in last week’s Mackinnon Stakes is good enough for this. Blinkers go back on again and he’s finished second in a Cox Plate to Winx when this strategy has been used before. The query is whether he’s had too much racing over spring.

The blinkers will go back on Humidor in the Zipping Classic. Picture: Getty Images

DAL HARRAILD ($10)

Finished second in this race last year to The Taj Mahal. This is the race the stable has aimed him for and, as a result, he will only be contesting this at his fourth run in.

MISS SISKA ($10)

Daughter of So You Think fought on well when second in the Matriarch Stakes last start. She will push forward and, with her slight weight advantage, should run a bold race.

VENTURA STORM ($8)

Not beaten that far in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes last week, which was his best run of the campaign. He’s fit and he’s honest.

THE ROUGHIE

MIDTERM ($21)

Didn’t have the best of luck in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes as he was trapped wide early and as a result was forced to make an early move. Battled on quite well to finish sixth.

THE TIPS

1. SOUTHERN FRANCE

2. Humidor

3. Dal Harraild

4. Miss Siska

Originally published as Zipping Classic 2019: Dal Harraild set to fulfil spring goal in Group 2 feature