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Since moving to WFA, the Race History of the Zipping Classic at Sandown on Saturday has changed for the better.

Zipping won the race four times in a row and then had it named after him. Will it be international success again in the 2018 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday?

2018 ZIPPING CLASSIC - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Zipping Classic is a Group 2 race run under Weight For Age conditions for stayers at Sandown conducted by the Melbourne Racing Club.

The Zipping Classic is run over 2400m. It was first run in 1888 and was won by Mara.

The early runnings of this race were as the Williamstown Cup and run by the Williamstown Racing Club. The race moved to Sandown in 1947 and eventually run by the VATC (now MRC).

From 1963 it was the Sandown Cup then the Sandown Classic in 1999 when it went to WFA. From 2011 it was named after the four time winner Zipping.

Despite early editions at 2200m, the vast majority were run at 2400m.

The Zipping Classic was a Principal Race until 1979 then Group 2.

Zipping’s wins from 2007 to 2010 were remarkable in that he had run in three of those after taking on the Melbourne Cup.

Count Ricardo was the last three year old to win in 2004. He’d placed in the Victoria Derby beforehand.

International runners have had good success of late with Beautiful Romance, Au Revoir and Americain all winning and The Taj Mahal an import too but trained locally.

They ran the race at Caulfield in 2013.

The Zipping Classic is worth $300,000 in 2018.

Notable winners of the Zipping Classic include Who Shot Thebarman (2015), Americain (2011), Zipping (2007/2008/2009/2010), Roman Arch (2005), Legible (2003), Sky Heights (2001), Aerosmith (1999), Count Chivas (1995), Our Pompeii (1994), Stylish Century (1991), Sydeston (1989), Arwon (1980), Salamander (1978), Baghdad Note (1973), Gunsynd (1971), Light Fingers (1966), Sailor’s Guide (1957), Prince Cortauld (1954), Shadow King (1933), Amounis (1928) and King Ingoda (1922).

The 2017 Zipping Classic was won by The Taj Mahal from Almandin and Big Duke.