With all the big guns up here for the winter carnival there is always a horse slipping under the radar at one of the midweek racedays. Two weeks ago we seen the return of one of Queensland’s best race mares in Zippy Lou.
Last preparation she ran places behind Lucky Leak and Cariad, and she beat Lucky Dubai and Funtantes over 1200m at Eagle Farm in February.
Wednesday week ago the classy mare was having her first run in 12 weeks and I was surprised that she was first up over 1350m as most judges thought that is about as far as she wanted fully fit. But she jumped extremely well dictated to the rest of them and won like the good horse she is.
I was interested to see what her plans are this time in work, so I caught up with her trainer John Petersen to see where she will go and what races he will target.
First of all John said it didn’t surprise him as she is such an honest mare, and she really only had a 2 ½ week brake, and did have a fair bit of fitness in her.
She has pleased John since that run and she will run this Saturday at Ipswich. “Her win was impressive, he had to use her up early from the wide alley. She stopped a little bit late but that is understandable, it was a really impressive run.” Petersen said.
John also told me Zippy Lou is spot on, has come on well and should be respected on Saturday. If she wins on Saturday and pulls up well she will most likely start in the Group 1 Tatts Tiara (1400m Eagle Farm). It is very interesting to note that John feels that her best distance will be over a trip. “I rekon a mile to ten furlongs will be her best distance. Her mother won five staying races in Sydney 1800-2000m.” Petersen said.
He is a very clever trainer and if he thinks she will excel over that distance then it’s good enough for me. She is a really nice mare who puts in terrific efforts every time she goes around, and it is for that reason she has a large following of fans. If she can get a nice barrier she will again prove very hard to beat, and it would be nice to see John have a winner over the carnival.
**Anyone who didn’t catch the news, STAR WITNESS finished 2nd overnight and on that run he has to be a big chance come Saturday.
** And anyone that didn’t see yesterday’s article I mentioned we have a Blackbooker in SOLZHENITSYN in Brissy, and I am also keen to see ST DARCI again.
Good luck.
