Ratings expert Daniel O’Sullivan has Rising Romance on top of his 2015 Zipping Classic tips and he believes the talented mare is well-placed to return to winning form in the Group 2 event at Sandown tomorrow.
Rising Romance has the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Zipping Classic at Sandown tomorrow. Photo by: Steve Hart
Rising Romance has not recorded a race win in Australia since she took out the 2014 edition of the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) and she failed to fire in both the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4 and the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17, but she returned to her best form with a tough second behind Gailo Chop in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 31.
O’Sullivan admits that the Zipping Classic is a tough race to analyse, but he told RSN that he leans towards Rising Romance due to the level of performances that she has previously produced when stepping up to 2400 metres.
“I lean to Rising Romance because I think she has the upside over 2400 metres,” O’Sullivan said.
“I commented prior to the Caulfield Cup that prior to that race her only two previous Australian starts at 2400 were both big spike ratings in reference to her career and we know that she has a liking for the trip.
“Coming off a solid run last start behind Gailo Chop gives her the edge.”
Who Shot Thebarman is currently on the third line of Zipping Classic betting markets at a quote of $3.80 and O’Sullivan believes that the Chris Waller-trained galloper is the major danger to Rising Romance in the Group 2 event.
The Sydney Cup runner-up was far from disgraced when 12th in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and O’Sullivan believes that Kiwi stayer is ready to produce his best following luckless runs in the Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.
“The other horse that I am potentially interested in is Who Shot Thebarman,” O’Sullivan said.
“I have him at around $4.60, but he may get to longer on the day.
“He was certainly a forgive run on the day, but prior to that he was really tracking well.
“He had a better than usual resumption to his preparation behind Complacent, he ran really well behind Preferment and in the Turnbull he gave the impression that he was looking for 2000 and in the Caulfield Cup he got a mile too far back and ran on well.
“This horse has been tracking better than his form on paper suggests and he isn’t going to be nearly as far back.
“I can forecast him running up to near his best and that makes him a dangerous proposition in the smaller field.”
Rising Romance is currently available at 2015 Zipping Classic odds of $2.80 with Ladbrokes and she is favourite from Tall Ship ($3.70), Who Shot Thebarman ($3.80), Kirramosa ($7) and Sertorius ($15).
