ZIPPING Willow is now likely to have two cracks at earning a Group 1 crown before retiring and trainer Jason MACKAY is not ruling out a grandstand end to her racing days.
The star chaser, who has earned 34 wins from 52 starts and almost $200,000 in prize-money, is currently returning to full fitness from a toe injury – the latest injury to bedevil her superb career.
MACKAY had previously said that his charge, who has been one of the standout NSW sprinters over the last two years, would finish her racing career with an attempt on March’s Golden Easter Egg (520m).
With her return to full fitness progressing well, though, MACKAY said he is now aiming ZIPPING Willow for the Group 1 Australian Cup (525m) at The Meadows later this month first up.
“She has had a couple of trials over the 400m at Richmond and Maitland and never looked better,” MACKAY said.
“I’ve said to the owners if there is any hiccup at all then I would retire her straight away – but she’s a hard one to retire.
“She is ready to go and loves racing so we will go again until she says ‘that’s enough’.”
A contender for this year’s NSW Greyhound of the Year Award, ZIPPING Willow’s superb career includes 20 Wentworth Park victories.
She has two Group 3 crowns to her name and would surely have won more titles but for bad luck with injury and illness.
MACKAY’s charge suffered her latest setback when she badly injured a toe at the start of the Group 2 Gosford Cup Final at the start of January.
The trainer admitted he had a few ‘if onlys’ about ZIPPING Willow’s career, but said she may still provide a fairytale finish to her life on the track.
“I was hoping that with her chasing ability she could have won one or two Group 1s,” he said. “They’ve side-stepped us, but that’s part of the deal.
“If she doesn’t win one then I’m not worried. She cannot have done anymore for me.
“I would say it’s not just all over yet for her (as well). I still think she has something to offer.”
The 2015 Golden Easter Egg series at Wentworth Park starts with heats on March 21.
Other top chasers earmarked for likely starts by their connections include Chica Destacada, Rue De Kahn and the exciting WA pair Tureaud and Quartz Bale.
