Cox Plate runner-up Fawkner headlines the nominations for the Group 2 $350,000 Deadly Design Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday.
The Lloyd Williams owned Fawkner headlines the Zipping Classic nominations. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Fawkner is one of three Lloyd Williams owned entrants in the weight for age Zipping Classic which is named after his former top line galloper Zipping who won the Sandown Classic four years in a row before it was renamed to honour his achievements.
Williams also won the Zipping Classic with Tanby carrying the famous blue and white colours to victory in 2012.
2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon and English import Sea Moon are also nominated and Williams is hoping for better luck with the imports after both missed a start in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington last Tuesday.
Green Moon didn’t make the final acceptances for the Melbourne Cup because of a cracked hoof while Sea Moon was withdrawn from the field after he developed an elevated temperature on the Monday morning before the race.
Fawkner was the only Williams runner to go around in ‘The Race That Stops The Nation’ and finished tenth to German stayer Protectionist.
At his previous start Fawkner was gallant in defeat when a head second to the Aidan O’Brien trained Adelaide in the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.
English stayer Lord Van Percy is another nominated for the Zipping Classic who missed out on a start in the Melbourne Cup after showing signs of soreness which forced his scratching from the Group 3 $300,000 Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Derby Day, denying him a chance to gain a start in the Melbourne Cup.
Trainer Darren Weir said that Prince Of Penzance has pulled up in good order after running second to Le Roi in the Group 3 $300,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington and will take his place in the Zipping Classic on Saturday.
“The horse has pulled up really well, terrific, so we’ll nominate and keep a close watch on him all week, but he seems really good,” Weir told Racing Network.
Prince Of Penzance is racing in fine form and came from last to win the Group 2 $250,000 Racing.com Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley on October 25 at his previous start.
French Stayer Au Revoir is also among the Zipping Classic nominations following his eighth in the Melbourne Cup.
Green Moon, Sea Moon, Lord Van Percy, Prince Of Penzance and Surpass are also nominated for the Listed $150,000 Sportingbet Sandown Cup (3200m) on Saturday.
With only thirteen horses nominated for the Zipping Classic, the Melbourne Racing Club has extended nominations until 10am on Tuesday (Melbourne time).
