I backed Zipping a while ago as I had him in last years Melbourne Cup and thought that the obvious goal would be the Caulfield Cup this year.

Obviously Lloyd Williams wants a Cox Plate after a decade of cerise nightmares.

He did say a few weeks ago that Zipping couldn't beat Weekend Hussler at the weights in the Caulfield Cup but that was before W.H was beaten last start. Strange that the extra 400m would suit Zipping more than W.Hussler and Zipping will give Hussler weight in the Cox Plate, unlike the Caulfield Cup where Zipping would have carrier 1.5kgs less than W.H !!!

Thought he would have had a re-think. Maybe the combination of a fast tempo and a liking for the Moonee Valley circuit is what swayed Williams to by-pass the CC and focus solely on the CP....especially as Weekend Hussler will be disadvantaged by the seven day backup....or even be withdrawn if he fails miserably.

Finally, I was hoping Maldivian drew a barrier as I had no doubt that he would run a huge race in the CC (especially with no pace) but he's drawn dreadfully. I'll still have something each way because he's a class horse and he's runs haven't been all that bad at WFA but the work he has to do at the start of the race could tell over the last furlong.

MY SELECTIONS (dead track or better)

ZAGREB (with blinkers)
GUILLOTINE
MALDIVIAN
NOM DU JEU