Canberra Cup winner Zipping Willow makes her long-awaited return to the track in the Cant's Building & Construction Stakes (400m) at Maitland this afternoon.
Zipping Willow has been off the scene since dislocating a back toe in October last year but trainer Jason MACKAY said the enforced break has done her the world of good.
Zipping Willow burst onto the scene when she won at Wentworth Park in 29.59 at only her 10th race start.
On August 3 last year Zipping Willow took out a heat of the NSW division of the sprint Nationals and then finished second to Zulu Zeus in the final.
She then finished second to Billy Buzzard in both a heat and final of the Group 2 Black Top at Unibet Gardens before prevailing in the Group 3 Canberra cup, where she relegated top class Victorian Bookkeeper to second placing.
Zipping Willow also accounted for a smart field including National Sprint Champion Xylia Allen in a heat of last year's Group 2 Bob Payne Spring Sprint.
Zipping Willow resumes at Maitland in a 4/5 grade event over the 400m sprint trip, but MACKAY said it is a starting point for his talented chaser.
"If she wasn't racing Thursday then I would be trialling her Friday, so I would rather race her," he said.
"She's come back good and has been trialling well, so now it's just a matter of finding a couple of races to get her into condition.
"Her toe has healed completely so all she's lacking now is race fitness.
"She just had a couple of little setbacks that are all a part of racing but I think she's going to come back a really nice dog this time.
"Her times at Wentworth Park show she is a very smart bitch and the forced break has done her the world of good.
"Today's race is probably not over an ideal distance for her but you've got to start somewhere."
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