A Few Scares But Zipping Kansas Scores Impressive Win
By Jeff Collerson
He may not have run the fastest time of the night but boom puppy Zipping Kansas had the look of a future group race winner when retaining his unbeaten record with a remarkable performance at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Going into a 520m fifth grade after a pair of scorching 472m wins at Bulli, Zipping Kansas was sent out a long odds-on favourite from box two but stunned his supporters when, for the first time in his career, he "bombed'' the start.
After charging confidently into third position on the first turn, Zipping Kansas gave his backers another fright when he collided and drifted wide.
But the Ray Magri-trained youngster displayed extraordinary acceleration to sweep around the pacemakers leaving the back straight and was a clear leader approaching the home bend, coming away to win by nearly six lengths.
His time for the 520m was 29.69, with outstanding run home figures of 11.61.
After the race Magri said: "In each of his races and trials Zipping Kansas has gone 'bang' straight to the lead so it was pleasing he was able to do it the hard way and still win.
Zipping Kansas' figures were bettered in the final race by the JODIE Lord-trained Coast Model, another hot favourite, who led throughout in 29.65 to record her fifth Wentworth Park win.
Coast Model's litter sister Collecting Model had earlier broken through for her first Wentworth Park win in five outings when she led throughout to land a 520m fifth grade in 29.80.
"Collecting Model has good early pace but I wasn't sure if she would be able to get across from box eight because she is better from an inside draw,'' trainer Andrew Bell said.
"But while she had not broken 30sec before tonight, I wasn't surprised she recorded 29.80 once she got a clear run to the lead and I believe she is capable of going a tenth faster from a rails draw.''
Zipping Kansas' litter sister Zipping Virginia, who won her maiden at Wentworth Park in 30.19, posted identical time to win Saturday's opening race for trainer John Finn, coming from fifth on the back straight with a powerful rails run to score by over three lengths.
One Smart One gave Coast Model's trainer JODIE Lord a winning double when he followed an impressive Wentworth Park debut win on Wednesday with a determined half length victory in 30.12.
One Smart One is raced by Joe Parrino, who is no stranger to success at Wentworth Park.
"I've had some smart dogs including the John Finn-trained Winsome Force, who won 20 races between 2005 and 2007, and a few years earlier Harry Sarkis had trained the top class stayer No Way Gloria on my behalf,'' Parrino said.
"I bred One Smart One from my bitch Nana Road and her entire litter, sired by Barcia Bale, have plenty of ability.
"Because One Smart One won just 72 hours earlier at Wentworth Park, I was a bit concerned as to how well he would back up but he did it extremely well.''
Romantic Storm, who registered his seventh Wentworth Park win on Saturday night, was only in his race because nominations were extended from Tuesday until Wednesday morning.
"I had intended entering him for Saturday morning's Richmond straight track meeting but when closing of the WP noms were delayed I decided to throw Romantic Storm in at Wenty,'' trainer George Borg said.
Romantic Storm exited box six and veered so sharply towards the rails in the rush to the first corner that he collided heavily with Weblec Pearl, who took a tumble.
"That's not the first time Romantic Storm has done that, he is just mad for the rails but has only drawn box one once in 28 starts,'' Borg said.
"I was worried about him being in box six but having a vacant box next to him in five helped.''
Flying Ricciardo might be sidelined with injury but that champion's litter sister IVY CONNIVING continues to burn up Wentworth Park and on Saturday night she led throughout in 29.90 for her sixth win in a dozen city starts.
Third fastest time on Saturday was posted by the Chrystal Hensing-trained Bones McCoy, who had won on debut at Wentworth Park in 29.62 and clocked 29.76 on Saturday.
On each occasion Bones McCoy led throughout from box eight.
