Zipping Kyrgios facing uphill battle in Christmas Gift Final
Despite her admiration for Zipping Kyrgios, Minnie Finn admits he will have a tough time of it in the Group 3 Ladbrokes Christmas Gift Final over 520m at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Finn's star sprinter with $560,740 to his name – and an impressive 32 wins from 79 starts – has drawn the dreaded box eight for the $25,000-to-the-winner event.
“Bad box. Disaster,” Finn told Australian Racing Greyhound with a smile.
While Zipping Kyrgios finished fourth in his Christmas Gift heat, he ran a decent time of 29.80, with the winner Zipping Novak producing a sizzling 29.54 seconds for Jason Magri.
2022 G3 Christmas Gift Heat 1 replay – Zipping Kyrgios (4th)
Kennelmate Zipping Alabama also qualified for the final, finishing second in the second heat but in a slower time of 29.88 seconds.
Simply Limelight was first across the line for veteran conditioner Peter Rodgers in 29.83 seconds.
“She (Zipping Alabama) was good,” Finn said.
But in another blow for Finn at the box draw, her consistent three-year-old bitch with $143,000 in prizemoney from 59 starts drew the six lane.
“Draw the inside and come out,” a hopeful Finn said after the heat and before the box draw.
“She's not a really good beginner. But when she's drawn near the fence and finds the fence she's competitive.”
On a sad note on Saturday night, Simply Limelight's sister Lightnin' Ethics failed to finish the first Christmas Gift heat.
Making the first turn leaving the home straight, the promising two-year-old was contacted from behind and fell heavily, as detailed in the stewards' report.
A post-race veterinary examination revealed a left-fore compound fracture of the distal radius and ulna, and she had to be subsequently euthanised.
Lightnin' Ethics was aimed at the Group 2 Bogie Leigh Futurity Final in Brisbane on January 5, and likely would have been one of the favourites.
A source said she was very well looked after, and that she was fit, healthy and happy.
Group 3 Ladbrokes Christmas Gift Final Box DrawWentworth Park520m
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1 Good Odds Emma
T: Jodie Lord
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2 Zipping Novak
T: Jason Magri
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3 Mac Ibrox
T: William Dance
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4 Hold Me Up
T: Joe Comito
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5 Simply Limelight
T: Peter Rodgers
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6 Zipping Alabama
T: John Finn
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7 Coast Model
T: Jodie Lord
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8 Zipping Kyrgios
T: John Finn
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