Trainer Grahame Begg is hoping for a solid pace up front to give Our Libretto every chance of producing her best form in the Group 2 $300,000 Quayclean Zipping Classic (2400m) at Ladbrokes Park at Sandown.

The Taj Mahal, above, is the favourite for the 2018 Zipping Classic at Sandown. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Our Libretto suffered her first defeat on Australian soil last start when seventh in a slowly run Group 2 $300,000 7News Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington last Saturday and Begg is happy to forgive the run and give her a chance to back up this weekend.

“The way the Matriarch was run didn’t suit her at all,” Begg said.

“It was slowly run, the field was bunched up around the home turn and she just takes a little while to hit her straps. She had a soft run but wasn’t tested in the straight with no clear running.”

“We weren’t contemplating backing up into the Zipping Classic until she pulled up so well.”

Our Libretto arrived from New Zealand in 2018 as a maiden but Begg was able to saddle the O’Reilly mare up for four straight wins, her best and latest victory coming in the $100,000 Pinker Pinker Plate (2025m) at Cranbourne on October 12.

Our Libretto is testing new waters stepping up to weight for age and the 2400m for the first time but the five year old mare has won twice on the Sandown track.

Damian Lane takes over the reins from the suspended Jordan Childs on Our Libretto who will jump from the inside gate in the eight horse Zipping Classic field.

Our Libretto has been well supported in the betting for the Zipping Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au and shares the second line of betting at $5 with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained Dal Harraild while last year’s winner The Taj Mahal is marked as the $4 favourite to defend his title.