The Zipping Classic, registered as the MRC Sandown Classic is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions over a distance of 2400 metres run at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in late-November/early-December.
History The event was initially held by the Williamstown Racing Club at the Williamstown Racecourse. After the racecourse grandstand burned to the ground in 1947 the racing club amalgamated with the privately owned Victorian Trotting and Racing Association to become the Melbourne Racing Club and moved the event to Sandown Racecourse. In 1963 the racing club merged with the Victoria Amateur Turf Club and the club changed the name of the event.
Prior to 1999 the conditions of the race were an open handicap. Since 2011, the name of the race has been changed to honour Zipping, after he won the race for a fourth consecutive time in 2010. In 2013, the race was transferred to Caulfield due to renovations occurring at Sandown.
Meanwhile, in 2010 the Melbourne Racing Club introduced a new Sandown Cup into the program. This event became a Listed race in 2012 and is held over 3,200 metres.
In 2021, the race was moved to Caulfield Racecourse permanently and occurs two weeks later than its original date, which was one week after the conclusion of the Flemington carnival.
1948 racebook
Name 1888–1962 - Williamstown Cup (except in 1945 it was called the Victory Cup for the end of World War II) 1963–1998 - Sandown Cup 1999–2010 - Sandown Classic 2011 onwards - Zipping Classic
Grade 1888–1978 - Principal race 1979 onwards - Group 2
Distance 1888–1919 - 1 miles (~2200 metres) 1920–1942 and 1951–1971 - 1 miles (~2400 metres) 1943–1950 - 1 miles (~2600 metres) 1972 onwards - 2400 metres
Winners since 1999
Year Winner Jockey Trainer Time2025She's A HustlerJordan ChildsGrahame Begg 2:31.19 2024 Arapaho Rachel King Bjorn Baker 2:33.01 2023 Military Mission Jye McNeill Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 2:31.73 2022 Vow And Declare John Allen Danny O'Brien 2:28.13 2021 Sound Jamie Mott Michael Moroney 2:32.65 2020 Sound Jamie Kah Michael Moroney 2:37.09 2019 Southern France Mark Zahra Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 2:32.01 2018 The Taj Mahal Ben Melham Liam Howley 2:31.52 2017 The Taj Mahal Ben Melham Robert Hickmott 2:30.09 2016 Beautiful Romance Glyn Schofield Saeed bin Suroor 2:29.05 2015 Who Shot Thebarman James McDonald Chris Waller 2:29.10 2014 Au Revoir Kerrin McEvoy Andre Fabre 2:32.06 2013 Sertorius Ryan Maloney Bruce Elkington 2:30.97 2012 Tanby Nicholas Hall Robert Hickmott 2:32.01 2011 Americain Gerald Mosse Alain de Royer-Dupre 2:37.87 2010 Zipping Nicholas Hall Robert Hickmott 2:39.49 2009 Zipping Michael Rodd Robert Hickmott 2:32.29 2008 Zipping Michael Rodd John Sadler 2:35.05 2007 Zipping Steven Arnold John Sadler 2:33.72 2006 Gallant Guru Steven Arnold Lee Freedman 2:30.87 2005 Roman Arch Noel Callow Robbie Laing 2:33.75 2004 Count Ricardo Blake Shinn Stephen Theodore 2:37.94 2003 Legible Danny Nikolic Bradley Marzato 2:29.83 2002 Hail Greg Childs Bruce Marsh 2:27.91 2001 Sky Heights Damien Oliver Colin Alderson 2:28.35 2000 Brave Chief Patrick Payne John Ledger 2:24.31 1999 Aerosmith Greg Childs Peter Hurdle 2:30.30
Earlier winners
1998 - Cheviot 1997 - Star Binder 1996 - Royal Snack 1995 - Count Chivas 1994 - Our Pompeii 1993 - Tawlord 1992 - Silk Ali 1991 - Stylish Century 1990 - Pressman's Choice 1989 - Sydeston 1988 - Conbituate Lady 1987 - Colour Page 1986 - Pharostan 1985 - Puckle Harbour 1984 - Rich Brother 1983 - Al Dwain 1982 - Bianco Lady 1981 - Allez Bijou 1980 - Arwon 1979 - Hauberk 1978 - Salamander 1977 - Tom's Mate 1976 - Kiwi Can 1975 - Captain Peri 1974 - Pyramul 1973 - Baghdad Note 1972 - Stormy Seas 1971 - Gunsynd 1970 - What's Brewing 1969 - General Command 1968 - Better Talk 1967 - Future 1966 - Light Fingers 1965 - Red William 1964 - Sir Wynyard 1963 - Conference 1962 - New Statesman 1961 - Twilight Glow 1960 - Ilumquh 1959 - Royal Jester 1958 - Droll Prince 1957 - Sailor's Guide 1956 - Fighting Force 1955 - Ray Ribbon 1954 - Prince Cortauld 1953 - Royal Radiant 1952 - Morse Code 1951 - Shoreham 1950 - Morse Code 1949 - Saxony 1948 - Gayness 1947 - Columnist 1946 - Royal Scot 1945 - Counsel 1944 - Peter 1943 - Claudette 1942 - Phocion 1941 - Throttle 1940 - Remarc 1939 - Maikai 1938 - Manolive 1937 - John Wilkes 1936 - Amalia 1935 - Garrio 1934 - Gothic Gem 1933 - Shadow King 1932 - Yarramba 1931 - Second Wind 1930 - Second Wind 1929 - Cimbrian 1928 - Amounis 1927 - Star D'Or 1926 - Bard Of Avon 1925 - The Tyrant 1924 - San Antonio 1923 - Wynette 1922 - King Ingoda 1921 - Tangalooma 1920 - Millieme 1919 - Richmond Main 1918 - Sea Bound 1917 - Prince Bardolph 1916 - Wishing Cap 1915 - Carlita 1914 - Aleconner 1913 - Sea Prince 1912 - Almissa 1911 - Duke Foote 1910 - Aborigine 1909 - Kerlie 1908 - Iolaire 1907 - Thackeray 1906 - Ellis 1905 - Demas 1904 - St. Ambrose 1903 - Billali 1902 - Eleanor 1901 - Flagship 1900 - Paul Pry 1899 - Delusive 1898 - Auriferous 1897 - Battalion 1896 - Merman 1895 - Music 1894 - Taranaki 1893 - Jeweller 1892 - E.K. 1891 - Propounder 1890 - Don Giovan 1889 - Tarcoola 1888 - Mara
Charts results (1983– )
See also List of Australian Group races Group races
References