The Zipping Classic, registered as the MRC Sandown Classic is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions over a distance of 2400 metres run at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in late-November/early-December.[1] Prize money is A$750,000.
| Group 2 race | |
 Amounis, 1928 Williamstown Cup winner | |
| Location | Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1888 (as Williamstown Cup) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred |
| Sponsor | Quayclean (2024) |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2,400 metres |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Maidens ineligible |
| Weight | Weight for age |
| Purse | $750,000 (2024) |
History
editThe event was initially held by the Williamstown Racing Club at the Williamstown Racecourse.[2] After the racecourse grandstand burned to the ground in 1947 the racing club amalgamated with the privately owned Victorian Trotting and Racing Association to become the Melbourne Racing Club and moved the event to Sandown Racecourse.[3] In 1963 the racing club merged with the Victoria Amateur Turf Club and the club changed the name of the event.[2][3]
Prior to 1999 the conditions of the race were an open handicap. Since 2011, the name of the race has been changed to honour Zipping, after he won the race for a fourth consecutive time in 2010. In 2013, the race was transferred to Caulfield due to renovations occurring at Sandown.
Meanwhile, in 2010 the Melbourne Racing Club introduced a new Sandown Cup into the program. This event became a Listed race in 2012 and is held over 3,200 metres.[4]
In 2021, the race was moved to Caulfield Racecourse permanently and occurs two weeks later than its original date, which was one week after the conclusion of the Flemington carnival.[5]
1948 racebook
edit-
1948 MRC Williamstown Cup racebook front cover -
1948 MRC Williamstown Cup raceday officials -
1948 MRC Williamstown Cup official oncourse notices for patrons -
1948 MRC Williamstown Cup starters and results showing the winner, Gayness -
1948 MRC Williamstown Cup starters and results -
Back cover showing railway and admission charges
Name
edit- 1888–1962 - Williamstown Cup (except in 1945 it was called the Victory Cup for the end of World War II)[2]
- 1963–1998 - Sandown Cup
- 1999–2010 - Sandown Classic
- 2011 onwards - Zipping Classic
Grade
edit- 1888–1978 - Principal race
- 1979 onwards - Group 2
Distance
edit- 1888–1919 - 13⁄8 miles (~2200 metres)
- 1920–1942 and 1951–1971 - 11⁄2 miles (~2400 metres)
- 1943–1950 - 15⁄8 miles (~2600 metres)
- 1972 onwards - 2400 metres
| Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Arapaho | Rachel King | Bjorn Baker | 2:33.01 |
| 2023 | Military Mission | Jye McNeill | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 2:31.73 |
| 2022 | Vow And Declare | John Allen | Danny O'Brien | 2:28.13 |
| 2021 | Sound | Jamie Mott | Michael Moroney | 2:32.65 |
| 2020 | Sound | Jamie Kah | Michael Moroney | 2:37.09 |
| 2019 | Southern France | Mark Zahra | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 2:32.01 |
| 2018 | The Taj Mahal | Ben Melham | Liam Howley | 2:31.52 |
| 2017 | The Taj Mahal | Ben Melham | Robert Hickmott | 2:30.09 |
| 2016 | Beautiful Romance | Glyn Schofield | Saeed bin Suroor | 2:29.05 |
| 2015 | Who Shot Thebarman | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 2:29.10 |
| 2014 | Au Revoir | Kerrin McEvoy | Andre Fabre | 2:32.06 |
| 2013 | Sertorius | Ryan Maloney | Bruce Elkington | 2:30.97 |
| 2012 | Tanby | Nicholas Hall | Robert Hickmott | 2:32.01 |
| 2011 | Americain | Gerald Mosse | Alain de Royer-Dupre | 2:37.87 |
| 2010 | Zipping | Nicholas Hall | Robert Hickmott | 2:39.49 |
| 2009 | Zipping | Michael Rodd | Robert Hickmott | 2:32.29 |
| 2008 | Zipping | Michael Rodd | John Sadler | 2:35.05 |
| 2007 | Zipping | Steven Arnold | John Sadler | 2:33.72 |
| 2006 | Gallant Guru | Steven Arnold | Lee Freedman | 2:30.87 |
| 2005 | Roman Arch | Noel Callow | Robbie Laing | 2:33.75 |
| 2004 | Count Ricardo | Blake Shinn | Stephen Theodore | 2:37.94 |
| 2003 | Legible | Danny Nikolic | Bradley Marzato | 2:29.83 |
| 2002 | Hail | Greg Childs | Bruce Marsh | 2:27.91 |
| 2001 | Sky Heights | Damien Oliver | Colin Alderson | 2:28.35 |
| 2000 | Brave Chief | Patrick Payne | John Ledger | 2:24.31 |
| 1999 | Aerosmith | Greg Childs | Peter Hurdle | 2:30.30 |
Earlier winners
edit- 1998 - Cheviot
- 1997 - Star Binder
- 1996 - Royal Snack
- 1995 - Count Chivas
- 1994 - Our Pompeii
- 1993 - Tawlord
- 1992 - Silk Ali
- 1991 - Stylish Century
- 1990 - Pressman's Choice
- 1989 - Sydeston
- 1988 - Conbituate Lady
- 1987 - Colour Page
- 1986 - Pharostan
- 1985 - Puckle Harbour
- 1984 - Rich Brother
- 1983 - Al Dwain
- 1982 - Bianco Lady
- 1981 - Allez Bijou
- 1980 - Arwon
- 1979 - Hauberk
- 1978 - Salamander
- 1977 - Tom's Mate
- 1976 - Kiwi Can
- 1975 - Captain Peri
- 1974 - Pyramul
- 1973 - Baghdad Note
- 1972 - Stormy Seas
- 1971 - Gunsynd
- 1970 - What's Brewing
- 1969 - General Command
- 1968 - Better Talk
- 1967 - Future
- 1966 - Light Fingers
- 1965 - Red William
- 1964 - Sir Wynyard
- 1963 - Conference
- 1962 - New Statesman
- 1961 - Twilight Glow
- 1960 - Ilumquh
- 1959 - Royal Jester
- 1958 - Droll Prince
- 1957 - Sailor's Guide
- 1956 - Fighting Force
- 1955 - Ray Ribbon
- 1954 - Prince Cortauld
- 1953 - Royal Radiant
- 1952 - Morse Code
- 1951 - Shoreham
- 1950 - Morse Code
- 1949 - Saxony
- 1948 - Gayness
- 1947 - Columnist
- 1946 - Royal Scot
- 1945 - Counsel
- 1944 - Peter
- 1943 - Claudette
- 1942 - Phocion
- 1941 - Throttle
- 1940 - Remarc
- 1939 - Maikai
- 1938 - Manolive
- 1937 - John Wilkes
- 1936 - Amalia
- 1935 - Garrio
- 1934 - Gothic Gem
- 1933 - Shadow King
- 1932 - Yarramba
- 1931 - Second Wind
- 1930 - Second Wind
- 1929 - Cimbrian
- 1928 - Amounis
- 1927 - Star D'Or
- 1926 - Bard Of Avon
- 1925 - The Tyrant
- 1924 - San Antonio
- 1923 - Wynette
- 1922 - King Ingoda
- 1921 - Tangalooma
- 1920 - Millieme
- 1919 - Richmond Main
- 1918 - Sea Bound
- 1917 - Prince Bardolph
- 1916 - Wishing Cap
- 1915 - Carlita
- 1914 - Aleconner
- 1913 - Sea Prince
- 1912 - Almissa
- 1911 - Duke Foote
- 1910 - Aborigine
- 1909 - Kerlie
- 1908 - Iolaire
- 1907 - Thackeray
- 1906 - Ellis
- 1905 - Demas
- 1904 - St. Ambrose
- 1903 - Billali
- 1902 - Eleanor
- 1901 - Flagship
- 1900 - Paul Pry
- 1899 - Delusive
- 1898 - Auriferous
- 1897 - Battalion
- 1896 - Merman
- 1895 - Music
- 1894 - Taranaki
- 1893 - Jeweller
- 1892 - E.K.
- 1891 - Propounder
- 1890 - Don Giovan
- 1889 - Tarcoola
- 1888 - Mara
Charts results (1983– )[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Winners and Past Results for the Sandown Classic". Progroupracing.com (Aus). 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- ^ a b c "VATC Sandown Classic (winners from 1888-2000)". Beijing Jockey Club (in Chinese). China Stud Book. 2000. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- ^ a b "VicTAB : How And Why? Courses For Horses (Williamstown)". ozsportshistory (Aus). The Australian. 15 July 1964. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- ^ "Sportingbet Park Sandown Hill (race card for Saturday, 15th November)". Racing Victoria. www.racing.com. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- ^ "Revamped Zipping Classic ready for Caulfield test". racenet.com.au. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ "Racing Australia | Horse Racing Results".
- ^ "MRC SANDOWN CLASSIC History". breednet.com.au. Breednet. Retrieved 9 November 2021.