4:25am - Deadly Design Zipping Classic | 2400m | Group 2 | i

The Zipping Classic this year presents the usual late-season puzzle with a few in-form gallopers trying to take the next step to Weight-for-Age. The likes of Prince of Penzance, Au Revoir and Epingle come up against the rear-guard action of the Williams team (the two Moons) and the Hayes runner Spillway. Lots of queries hang over the heads of most, but you can’t question the form of the genuine stayer Prince of Penzance after he has stormed home at his last couple of runs (both off steady tempos). Au Revoir was beaten by that galloper at the tight-turning Moonee Valley course before running admirably in the Cup, while Epingle also appeared in the same race, where she plotted a wider course and did well. Green Moon is clearly the class of the race (recovered after set-back?) and Spillway (question at 2400m) brings the best form-lines. You could forgive Spillway last time he tried the mile and a half after an aggressive ride didn’t work out, and if you are in a really forgiving mood, even Sea Moon could bounce back after taking up the lead in the Caulfield Cup. Watch the betting ring, mounting yard and maybe go wide for this one; it might just be a question of who is primed on the day.