Zipping plunge falls through

Zipping will not run in the Australian Cup, trainer John Sadler has confirmed, despite the horse being the subject of a massive betting plunge for the race on Tuesday.

Sadler, who replaced the controversial Graeme Rogerson as the private trainer for prolific racehorse owner Lloyd Williams, will set Zipping and Melbourne Cup winner Efficient for light autumn campaigns in a bid to have them at their peak next spring.

Sadler told Sportal that the autumn program for both horses had not yet been finalised, but Zipping was likely to return in a 1400m race at Flemington on March 8, while Efficient will resume in the Group Three Carlyon Cup (1400m) at Caulfield on February 23.

Efficient may also run in the Group Two Blamey Stakes (1600m) on March 15 before heading for a spell ahead of a tilt at back-to-back Melbourne Cups.

Sadler said there were two main reasons why Williams wanted light autumn preparations for his star pair. The first being it helped them avoid burnout in the spring. Secondly, 'the longer they stay out in the paddock, the longer it takes longer to get them up'.

"They don't even have to race, it's his (Williams) choice to give them a run or two and get them up to pretty good fitness then they have a spell of four to six weeks before they come back in and get ready for the spring time," he said.

Sadler said he had 'absolutely no idea' what triggered Tuesday's betting plunge on Zipping, who was backed into $13 from $31 for next month's Australian Cup (2000m).

"It certainly wouldn't have come from the stable because everyone is well aware he's not running in the Australian Cup," he said.

"I don't know how that would have started. Maybe people were disappointed with Maldivian's run on Saturday and were out looking for someone to beat him."