Zipping Neutron wins delayed Bayroad Queen Stayers final at Angle Park
Zipping Neutron delivered a standout performance in the 2023 Bayroad Queen Stayers final, securing a nine-length victory in a time of 42.85, after a week's delay due to unfavourable weather conditions.
Held at Angle Park, the event witnessed the Tim Aloisi-trained runner display a commanding presence from box eight, marking his fourth consecutive triumph and affirming his emerging status among the top distance runners in the state.
The win came as no surprise to greyhound punters, with Zipping Neutron being sent to the boxes the long odds-on favourite paying -181.82 with greyhound betting sites.
Speaking post-race, Aloisi acknowledged the significance of securing a favourable box draw in such prominent races.
He noted, “He likes it out wide and he drew out wide and that's the way it panned out. All the dogs are good dogs and we finally had some luck with the box draw.”
The trainer also expressed gratitude for the unwavering support his team has provided since Zipping Neutron's interstate move, which has led to four wins from five starts.
Aloisi shared, “One of the owners wanted a staying dog, so we had a look around and liked him so we chased him down and bought him. It is hard work but I have a pretty good support group around me”.
2023 Bayroad Queen Stayers Final (Angle Park, 730m) – Zipping Neutron (42.85) T: Tim Aloisi
Aloisi's affection for the sport was palpable as he stated, “We love it, my family love it and we love racing. We love South Australian racing and that's why we support the club and the industry.
His passion paid off handsomely on the night with Ravers Army, another of his charges, recording a win over the 595m trip.
Ravers Army, jumping from box eight, grabbed the early lead and never looked back, winning by two lengths in a time of 34.43.
This marked his eighth victory in his last ten starts, adding to Aloisi's night of success.
The Bayroad Queen Stayers Cup, named after one of South Australia's (SA) most successful stayers, Bayroad Queen, has been an important addition to the distance racing calendar.
The 2021 edition of the race saw the Ben Rawlings-trained Barbados Express leading the pack from start to finish and claiming a $4,500 first prize.
With Angle Park undergoing redevelopment, the 2021 race was moved to Murray Bridge, offering a fresh challenge to the competitors.
Barbados Express, showing exceptional speed right from the start, held its position in the lead throughout the race and eventually won by a length in a swift time of 39.03, the fastest recorded over the 680m at the time.
The Stayer's Cup pays tribute to Bayroad Queen, who competed in the early 80s and became a prominent figure in the sport.
In 1982, she broke a 13-year dominance of NSW and Victoria by winning the Australian National Distance Final.
She won the Association Cup at Harold Park, the Sandown Cup at Olympic Park, and was named the SA Greyhound of the Year.
Notably, she broke the Angle Park track record twice in a single month, earning her the reputation of being the best stayer in the country at the time.
Zipping Neutron, who is a son of SH Avatar and Zipping Abby, now has an impressive track record of 39 starts for 12 victories, five second-place finishes, and four third-place finishes, yielding total prizemoney of $76,785.
The greyhound has achieved impressive times across several tracks, with his best time at Angle Park being 42.85 over 730m, and at Wentworth Park, he has run the 520m in 30.07, and 720m in 42.09.
Notably, Zipping Neutron has demonstrated a particularly strong performance from boxes three, five and eight; achieving win rates of 100%, 100% and 67% respectively from these starting draws.