3 minute read
Mick Kent is further concerned as to the future of Sandown following the movement of the Zipping Classic meeting to Caulfield.
One of Sandown racetracks most vocal supporters Mick Kent fears for its longterm viability with its main meeting shifting to Caulfield.
In its place Sandown has picked up the Group 1 Underwood Stakes on the Sunday after the AFL Grand Final, but with an underwhelming support card.
The Zipping Classic meeting, has been transferred from the Saturday after Melbourne Cup week to the end of November and will now sit between the Ballarat and Pakenham Cups.
Also on Zipping Classic Day is the Sandown Cup and Sandown Guineas.
The Zipping Classic was previously known as the Sandown Classic and up until 1998 the Sandown Cup.
Prior to that it was the Williamstown Cup and dates back to 1888 with names like Amounis, Shadow King, Sailor's Guide, Light Fingers, Gunsynd, Salamander, Sydeston and Sky Heights on the honour roll.
Kent, who had a winning double at Sandown on Saturday, fears what the Melbourne Racing Club has in store for the track and the longterm future of the Zipping Classic.
By moving the Zipping Classic to later in November, the MRC, and Racing Victoria, hope to extend racing's engagement beyond the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
"I can understand what they're trying to do, but it's just blatant that the MRC want to get rid of this place," Kent said.
"It's a superior track, it's the best racetrack in Australia, probably.
"Caulfield is not the racetrack that this place is and it will change the dynamics of the race, but I suspect that they'll run out of horses.
"Something will be cannibalised. It'll either be the Pakenham Cup, Ballarat Cup or the Sandown races.
"It doesn't matter how much money you throw at it, if there's not the pool of horses, especially if you have a good horse who has had a good spring, you have to spell that horse to get it ready for the autumn.
"I can't see the program at Caulfield being very strong and I'll be surprised if it was.
"You can't keep them going forever."
