Serpentine in shape for the Zipping Classic
Jockey Jye Mcneil is looking to be third time lucky aboard Serpentine when the pair again combine, this time in the Zipping Classic at Caulfield.
McNeil last rode the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper in the 2023 Melbourne Cup when 19th behind Without A Fight with his only other time aboard being in a 2500m handicap at Flemington the previous year.
However, the former Epsom Derby winner has found form at the right time and is ready to perform for connections that includes Lloyd and Nick Williams who raced Zipping after who Saturday’s race is named.
Zipping won the then Sandown Classic on four occasions from 2007 through until 2010.
McNeil has had success aboard Williams-owned gallopers previously, none bigger than Twilight Payment in the 2020 Melbourne Cup.
The jockey partnered Serpentine in his first look at Caulfield on Tuesday morning and was happy with how the gelding took to the circuit.
“He was very strong, and his best part was his last two furlongs through the line,” McNeil said.
“It was fantastic work, so he seems in good order.”
Two starts back, Serpentine finished second to Melbourne Cup placegetter Okita Soushi in the Moonee Valley Cup while last start the gelding was fourth in a slowly run Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington behind Smokin’ Romans.
While McNeil was yet to talk to connections, he would like to see Saturday’s race run more truly.
“It was a really slowly run race last time, which made it difficult,” McNeil said.
“I guess we’ll work that out when we get a little bit closer to the race, but I know that the connections certainly know how to win this type of race.
“Apart from a little bit of track work, I haven’t really been on him at the races so it would be interesting to see what connections want to do in terms of how they want to ride him.
“I think he’s got the right profile. He’s in good enough form to be competitive. His work here was brilliant and all things going well, he’ll be competitive on Saturday.
“One thing I can say is he’s in good order.”
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