Kirramosa back to full fitness for Zipping Classic

Crown Oaks winner Kirramosa has overcome a stone bruise and is back to full fitness for the Group 2 $300,000 Quayclean Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday.

Kirramosa is back to full fitness for the Zipping Classic at Sandown, Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Kirramosa is back to full fitness for the Zipping Classic at Sandown, Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Randwick based Kiwi trainer John Sargent said that Kirramosa has recovered from a stone bruise that forced her to miss the Group 2 $300,000 Presto Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington last Saturday.

“She got a stone bruise in the middle of last week so we couldn’t start her in that,” Sargent told AAP.

“But it’s all cleared up and she had a good gallop on Tuesday and she’s right on track.

“I’m very happy with her and she’ll go in there fighting fit. As fit as I can get her.”

Kirramosa hasn’t started since running third behind the Gai Waterhouse trained The Offer and Robert Hickmott’s Divan in the Group 3 $300,000 Jayco Bendigo Cup (2400m) at Bendigo on October 28, but the Alamosa mare had plenty of excuses that day.

Kirramosa figured heavily in the stewards’ report after her saddle slipped on the home turn, putting her jockey Chris Parnham at a severe disadvantage which resulted in him being dislodged shortly after the winning post.

“She couldn’t really finish it off,” Sargent said.

“That’s why she was running about in the straight but she still finished not far away.

“The Offer ran well in the Melbourne Cup and the second horse won on Saturday. So it’s a good formline.”

The formline out of the Bendigo Cup gives Sargent some confidence heading to Sandown with The Offer running creditably to finish eighth behind Prince Of Penzance in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3 while Divan came out at his next race start to win a 2000m BenchMark 90 Handicap at Flemington last Saturday.

Damien Oliver had been booked to ride Kirramosa in the Zipping Classic but the champion jockey had to relinquish the ride because of a careless riding suspension which resulted in Kerrin McEvoy picking up the mount.

If you fancy a bet on the Zipping Classic at Sandown on Saturday, you can get over the odds if you take advantage of Ladbrokes Zipping Classic Special Offer. [ladbrokes] are offering Best Tote or SP + 20% on the Zipping Classic, which means an additional 20% on your winnings up to a maximum bet of $50.

While Sargent is happy with Kirramosa going into Saturday’s weight for age race, it has been over two years since the five year old mare has visited the winner’s stall, with her last win being in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington during the 2013 Melbourne Spring Carnival.

Kirramosa has drawn barrier six in the eight horse Zipping Classic field and is currently marked at $10 with Ladbrokes.com.au.

The Darren Weir trained Dandino heads the market order at $3.20 just ahead of Rising Romance at $3.50 and the Chris Waller trained Who Shot Thebarman at $5.50.

Zipping Classic market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.20 Dandino, $3.50 Rising Romance, $5.50 Who Shot Thebarman, $6 Tall Ship, $10 Kirramosa, $19 Sertorius, $31 Don Doremo, $51 Do You Remember.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.