Don Doremo is currently available at 2015 Zipping Classic odds of $26 and trainer Robbie Laing is confident that the gelding will perform well in the Group 2 event at Sandown tomorrow.
Mark Zahra has been booked to ride Don Doremo in the 2015 Zipping Classic this weekend. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Don Doremo was sent to the spelling paddock after he finished at the tail of the field in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on April 11 and he returned to the races with a close fourth in the Bushnell Outdoor Products Handicap (1400m) at Sandown on August 26, but he was unable to replicate that sort of form in the Spring Is The Season Handicap (1700m) at Flemington on September 12 and the Showtime Attractions Handicap (1800m) at Caulfield on October 3.
The Don Eduardo gelding returned to a semblance of his best form with an 11th place finish in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 21 before he finished a gallant third behind Dandino and Secret Number in the Group 3 Queen’s Cup (2600m) at Flemington on November 7.
Laing believes that Don Doremo has continued to train on coming out of the Queen’s Cup and he is confident that the five-year-old has the chance to record an upset victory in the 2015 Zipping Classic.
“That was more the Don Doremo we know,” Laing told Racing Ahead of Don Doremo’s performance in the Zipping Classic.
“He ran a bottler first-up this time in, but second-up he had a tough run and it took him a long time to get over it.
“We were thinking about turning him out his form was so below par, but he started to pull up good after his track work before the Queen’s Cup, he raced well and he looks even better again.
“It has taken a long time to peal the weight off him – 12 months ago he was like a skinny teenager that didn’t take a lot of work, but this preparation he has.
“The weight-for-age scale doesn’t suit, but we have seen over the years that horses that are in form run well in this race and he will run well.”
Don Doremo has the chance to record a maiden win at black-type level after finishing in the placings in the Queen’s Cup and the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) earlier this year.
Dandino is currently available at 2015 Zipping Classic odds of $3.20 with Ladbrokes and he remains favourite from Rising Romance ($3.60), Who Shot Thebarman ($5), Tall Ship ($5.50) and Kirramosa ($10).
