Zipping Vanessa provides trainer John Finn with a well needed boost
Zipping Vanessa is a Group 2 winner after storming home to take out the 2023 Sydney Cup at Wentworth Park on Friday night.
Trained by John and Minnie Finn, she lined up in the 720m feature as the drifting +210 race favourite with online greyhound bookmakers.
Jumping from the black box, she got out to sit third, with third favourite, Ritza Piper (+380) dictating terms at the front and My Catalina in second as they turned the first bend.
Zipping Vanessa though moved up quickly to sit second around the second turn, before she took the lead and broke away into the back storming home to salute.
She beat Ritza Piper by 4.25 lengths in 41.81 to take the $100,000 top prize, with the Queensland-trained Valpolicella finishing third.
2023 Group 2 Sydney Cup (720m) – Zipping Vanessa (41.81) T: John Finn
On October 6, Zipping Vanessa destroyed the clock running the fastest of the Sydney Cup heats time in 41.54, which improved on her previous best of 41.61.
With a career that started over the 515m journey at The Gardens on Feburary 3, the daughter of Feral Franky and Shoshe has built a strong record at the Wentworth Park staying distance with seven wins and a minor placing from nine starts at the track and trip.
The Sydney Cup title will come as somewhat of a redemption for Zipping Vanessa, after she finished seventh at her only other Group start, the $85,000-to-the-winner Group 1 National Distance Championship Final at the Meadows, won by Palawa King.
A fortnight prior, she saluted in the NSW National Distance Championship Final at Wentworth Park, beating Palawa King by close to seven lengths (6.75) to take the $12,000-to-the-winner state final race.
Emotions were running high post race, with trainer John Finn unable to attend and watching the race from home with Minnie.
Handler and daughter-in-law, Courtney Barnes, said, “John is really battling health-wise at the moment, and Minnie won't leave him alone.
“They'll get a tremendous thrill from Zipping Vanessa's win.
“John especially really needed this boost”, said Barnes.
2023 Group 2 Sydney Cup
2023 Sydney Cup Results Wentworth Park 720m Group 2 $100,000 to-the-winner Friday, October 13, 2023 41.81
|
|
| 1st |
7 Zipping Vanessa
T: John Finn 41.81 – $100,000 +210
|
| 2nd |
3 Ritza Piper
T: Joe Scerri 42.10 4.25 lengths $20,000 +380
|
| 3rd |
2 Valpolicella
T: Tony Zammit 42.20 5.5 lengths $10,000 +400
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| 4th |
1 Zoha Bale
T: Mark Delbridge 42.22 5.75 lengths +220
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| 5th |
5 Zipping Kansas
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| 6th |
4 Locked On Scotch
T: George Kantzidis 42.96 16.25 lengths +3000
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| 7th |
6 Cawbourne Magic
T: Andy Lord 43.04 17.50 lengths +3000
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| 8th |
8 My Catalina
T: Dusty Drew Tailed Off Injured +6000
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