Phoenix Slot A Priority For Laurels Heroine

A call on tackling the Melbourne Cup is on hold for potential superstar Zipper On Time, with champion trainer Jason Thompson prioritising a slot in next month’s The Phoenix.

The decision by NSW owner/breeders Robert and Natina Howard to transfer their homebred prodigy to Thompson returned a $75,000 dividend on Friday night when Zipper On Time extended her winning streak to ten in the Group 2 Laurels Final (515m) at Sandown Park.

The gutsy Laurels triumph over Dashing Slay improved Zipper On Time’s remarkable overall record to 12 from 13.

“I thought she was gone, but she’s just a winner,” Jason Thompson told The Recorder on Saturday morning.

“At the 600m boxes I thought she was beaten and then turning for home I’d conceded she was going to run second, which still would’ve been a nice effort, but she fought it out to the line.

“She’s a real competitor. I don’t think she likes getting beaten.

“She’s won 12 out of 13 now and the only time she was beaten (second at The Gardens) she was an absolute certainty beat.”

A homegrown daughter of Clock Off, a son of 2016 Melbourne Cup hero Ando’s Mac, and Zipper Sky, Zipper On Time made a winning Victorian debut in the Laurels heats when clocking 29.28sec.

Drawn in box three for the prestigious female feature, Zipper On Time, which doesn’t turn two until later this month, started favourite at $1.90.

Zipper On Time was best to begin, clocking 5.10sec early, to hold the front, but she was under siege from $3.20 second elect Dashing Slay turning for home.

But Zipper On Time’s resume says she’s a winner and she demonstrated that priceless attribute once again to secure her first Group victory, repelling the challenge of a gallant Dashing Slay in 29.43sec.

Savouring his second Laurels success, 18 years after Miss Hot Gossip won the race, Thompson said he would leave a decision on whether Zipper On Time lines up in next Saturday night’s Melbourne Cup heats as late as Wednesday’s nomination deadline.

His clear priority is securing a coveted slot in The Phoenix and he knows exactly what it takes to win the world’s richest race, successful with champion sprinter Explicit last December.

“I don’t know,” said Thompson regarding a Melbourne Cup tilt.

“There’s a fair bit of interest in her for The Phoenix, so I’ll see where that goes in the next few days. If she gets a slot in The Phoenix she wouldn’t need to race again before then.”

Thompson had a succinct message for any critics pointing to Zipper On Time’s Laurels-winning time.

“Time only matters in jail!” he quipped.

“Everyone wants to have a fast dog for The Phoenix, which is all well and good until you get to the race.

“The Phoenix hasn’t been won in 29.50sec yet and possibly never will be.

“It’s no good having a fast dog that can’t handle pressure and as young as this bitch is, she’s already shown that she can handle pressure and even thrives on it.

“To win a race like The Phoenix you need to be a good race dog and you’ve got to be able to handle pressure and she ticks those boxes. There’s a lot of X factor about her too.

“When Wow She’s Fast won the first Phoenix, she wouldn’t have had as many starts as Zipper On Time has had.”

Thompson is spot on, with Wow She’s Fast taking out the inaugural Phoenix in 2021 at just her seventh race start.