Prince Of Penzance is currently available at 2014 Zipping Classic odds of $3.50 and is a narrow favourite to return to winning form in the Group 2 event at Sandown on Saturday.
Prince Of Penzance has the chance to record another win at Group level in the Zipping Classic after he took out the Moonee Valley Cup on Cox Plate. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Prince Of Penzance recorded the biggest race win of his career in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) on Cox Plate Day and he was well-backed in the lead-up to the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on November 8, but was unable to get past Le Roi in the final stages of the race.
Despite his last start defeat, punters are confident that Prince Of Penzance can replicate the feat of Sertorius in 2013, who bounce backed to win the Zipping Classic after being beaten in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes a week earlier.
There are question marks over the ability of Spillway to run out a strong 2400 metres, but the imported stayer is still on the second line of 2014 Zipping Classic betting markets.
Spillway started his spring preparation with strong performances in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), but he had no luck in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes before he failed to fire when stepped up to 2400 metres in the Group 1 The Metropolitan.
The Rail Link entire returned to a semblance of his best form when he worked home strongly to finish fourth behind Happy Trails in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 1.
Spillway opened at Zipping Classic odds of $3.80 when the 2014 Zipping Classic field was released yesterday, but quickly drifted out to a quote of $4 and has remained steady since.
The best-backed runner in Zipping Classic betting markets has been 2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon; with the Lloyd Williams-owned entire backed from $6 into $4.80 to return to winning form this weekend.
Green Moon finished a credible ninth in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) before missing the Melbourne Cup due to a cracked hoof, but connections are confident that the Montjeu entire has bounced back from the minor setback.
Au Revoir battled home solidly to finish a more than credible eighth in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 4 and is the only other horses available at single figure odds in Zipping Classic betting markets.
The Singspiel entire will be having his third race start in Australia and connections are hoping that he can push his claims for an invitation to run in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) on the Hong Kong International Raceday in December.
There has been a sprinkling of support for Sea Moon ($14 into $13) and Count Of Limonade ($15 into $13) in the Zipping Classic betting market with Ladbrokes Australia, while Rawnaq has been the big drifter ($11 out to $17).
