Queensland Nationals winners set for exciting futures

By Josh Spasaro

Beautiful Child and Zipping Lee all but guaranteed their exciting futures as broodbitches with their convincing wins in the Queensland National Distance and Sprint Finals at Q2 Parklands on Thursday night.

Beautiful Child made it a stunning seventh consecutive win in a sizzling time of 41.03 seconds over 710 metres for Wakerley-based trainer Ben McGrath.

And, from box two, Zipping Lee recorded a time of 29.56 seconds in the Queensland National Sprint Final, beating runner-up Oliver Go in the red rug on her inside by three quarters of a length.

Both led all the way. 

Just two years old, Beautiful Child is no longer the bright young juvenile with potential.

After beating Soiree by two-and-a-half lengths, she will line up as a genuine chance in the Group 1 Nationals Distance Championship at Sandown on August 29.

“Everyone was talking about Soiree and she was the up-and-comer coming through, wasn’t she?” McGrath said.

“And, she had to prove it to get the accolades Soiree was getting."

Now with 13 wins from 22 starts, Beautiful Child has already attracted interest from potential buyers who see her exciting dam potential.

But, owner Philip Muller is no rush given the abundant natural talent that the My Redeemer and Rumbling Away stayer possesses.

“There have been some offers to buy her, but Phil and Sue said she’s not for sale,” McGrath said.

“Her mother, Rumbling Away, I own her and John Dart trained her. Phil’s never had his own good broodbitch.

“He’s always been given someone else’s to breed from. So, he’s not selling – he just wants to enjoy the ride.”

Meanwhile, owner Marty Hallinan is also enjoying the ride with Zipping Lee. 

Zipping Lee was one of four big winners on what was a massive night for trainer Jedda Cutlack.

She now has a shot at Group 1 glory in the Nationals Sprint Championship at Sandown on August 29.

Like the striking and aptly named black bitch Beautiful Child, her win was a convincing one.

And, like Beautiful Child, fellow two-year-old Zipping Lee is set to be an in-demand broodbitch after she finishes her track career.

She is by Good Odds Harada and out of Hallinan’s bitch, Zipping Tayla.

“Zipping Tayla has been retired as a broodbitch. She’s had her day and she’s too old to breed from,” Hallinan said.

“Zipping Lee will step up and take over when Jedda is finished with her.

“Zipping Tayla was a good, handy little bitch and a frontrunner. She was on the bunny and she won the Group 1 Megastar at Dapto.

“She was a multiple city winner, too. It’s a good line and this is the first bitch we’ve kept out of Tayla. So, she’s quite valuable.”

When Zipping Lee led at the first turn and with $1.75 favourite Winsome Jet missing the start from box eight, Hallinan was confident she would not give up her position from the two lane.

“I knew she was going to be hard to beat, but there were a few strong finishers there,” he said.

“The one dog pulled a fair bit of ground off her, but hey, a win’s a win.

“You get through – that’s your number one aim, isn’t it?

“She began well and chased hard. When she’s on the lure, she’s quite a good handy bitch. 

“Winsome Jet missed the kick and pushed wide and she went from there. That comes back on box draws a bit too, doesn’t it?”

Hallinan also had Zipping Urban and Zipping Kravitz salute in convincing fashion for Cutlack at Q2 Parklands on Thursday night.

“They both began good. They used their heads, were well balanced and to get on the bunny is a big thing,” he said.

“It’s hard to be run down.”

Zipping Urban and Zipping Kravitz are litter brothers by Wow and out of Hallinan’s consistent broodbitch, Zipping Samara.

“The mother only won five races. Everyone said, ‘why did you keep her?’” he said.

“But, she was 31kg and a bit unlucky in a lot of races. It’s just something your eye picks up and she’s a valuable broodbitch.

“She’s just on season now and we’re going to go to Zipping Megatron. I’m looking forward to that mating.”