Top breeder says Zipping Lee needs some luck

By Josh Spasaro

Owner of Zipping Lee, Marty Hallinan, has played down the in-form chaser’s chances going into the National Sprint Championship Final at Sandown on Saturday night.

The two-year-old black brindle bitch has drawn box six in the Group 1 feature over 515 metres, which is going to make her assignment a tough one.

“They’re going to be hard to beat at Sandown,” the top New South Wales-based owner and breeder said.

“You want to draw one, two or three. She’s got to be near the fence – she hasn’t got that blistering early speed.

“If she misses it out wide, you’re in a bit of trouble and looking for a lot of luck.”

However, there is no luck involved in Zipping Lee lining up in the $100,000 Final for leading Queensland trainer Jedda Cutlack, who is based at Park Ridge.

She jumped beautifully from box two in the Queensland National Sprint Final at Q2 Parklands on August 13, leading all the way to salute by three-quarters of a length.

Winsome Jet finished fourth after finding early traffic in the pink rug at the first turn following a slow start at box rise.

“It’s an honour to make the National Championship Final. But, she’s been to a few Group 1s,” Hallinan said.

“Everything went right last start – the eight missed it and got pushed wide. And, when she’s on the lure, she’s quite a good, handy bitch.”

Zipping Lee has been the top earner for Hallinan’s now-retired broodbitch, Zipping Tayla.

By Good Odds Harada, she has picked up $148,785 in prizemoney, with 19 wins from 43 starts.

She won her heat in 29.80 seconds before her excellent Final performance saw her salute in 29.56 seconds.

Hallinan has been pleased with the quality of chasers the dam has produced and he has Zipping Lee earmarked to take her place once she retires from racing.

“Zipping Tayla has retired, so we’ve got something to move on with. Zipping Lee could potentially be a nice little broodbitch,” he said.

“She’s got the ability and a little bit of strength, too. She’s won over 520 and 600 metres.

“More than valuable and looking forward to her retiring.”

However, with Zipping Lee only turning three on November 10, she could have plenty more success as a chaser before she starts her life as a dam at Hallinan’s property in New South Wales’ Central West.

He was full of praise for Zipping Lee, particularly the way she improved her times during the Queensland National Sprint series.

“Jedda does a fine job,” he said.