The Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) takes place at Melbourne’s Sandown Racecourse annually in November during the Melbourne Spring Carnival and is an open weight-for-age race for horses aged three years and upwards.
With $350,000 in prizemoney, the Zipping Classic generally attracts second tier stayers, and in recent times, Melbourne Cup runners with a strong constitution have backed up in the event 11 days later.
In 2013, the race was run at Caulfield due to ongoing redevelopment at the Sandown Racecourse.
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the final day of the Flemington carnival has been a handy guide to this event in recent times.
Gallant Guru (2006) won the Queen Elizabeth & Sandown Classic double, while Tanby (2012) and Sertorious (2013) both placed in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes prior to winning the Sandown Classic.
First run in 1888, the Zipping Classic was won by Mara when it known as the Williamstown Cup and run over 11 furlongs (approximately 2200m).
Known as the Sandown Cup since 1964, and then the Sandown Classic from 1999, the race was renamed the Zipping Classic in 2011 in honour of four-time winner Zipping (2007-10).
Other feature races on the day include the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m), Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1400m), Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m), Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1200m) and the Group 3 Summoned Stakes (1600m).
Other horses to have won the race include: Tarcoola (1889), Tangalooma (1921), Amounis (1928), Second Win (1930-31), Sailor’s Guide (1957), Light Fingers (1966), Gunsynd (1971), Arwon (1980), Sydeston (1989), Stylish Century (1991), Count Chivas (1995), Aerosmith (1999), Sky Heights (2001), Roman Arch (2005), Gallant Guru (2006), Americain (2011), Who Shot Thebarman (2015) and The Taj Mahal (2017).