Jockey Michael Rodd capped off an excellent spring carnival when he piloted Zipping to back-to-back victories in the $350,000 G2 Sandown Classic (2400m) on Saturday.
An unlucky ninth last start in the Melbourne Cup, Zipping gave punters who accepted the $2.05 on course plenty of nervous moments before grabbing Douro Valley in the last few strides to win in a photo finish.
Cast in the unusual role of frontrunner, Red Ruler held on for third.
It was Rodd's second major race victory for leviathan owner Lloyd Williams after the pair split amicably at the beginning of the 2007-08 season.
Rodd rode Efficient to victory in last year's Melbourne Cup and secured the ride on Zipping after regular rider Danny Nikolic was suspended for careless riding on Oaks day.
Rodd, who won the Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate earlier this spring, showed tremendous confidence and patience on Zipping after the pair settled a clear last in the nine-horse field.
Last when they straightened, Rodd was still well off the pace when Douro Valley kicked clear at the 200 but the seven-year-old sprouted wings in the final furlong to grab the first prize.
Rodd admitted he may have ridden Zipping a 'little too confidently' after a quicker-than-expected early tempo.
"I had a look up and there was a couple of other ones in front I was expecting wouldn't be there. I put in my head then I can sit as long as I want now," he said.
"Coming around the turn I gave him a squeeze and coming down the dip I thought I might have left it a little too late."
"He's a horse that the final furlong is the best part of his race. I just had to keep at him and keep at him."
"That's one thing Lloyd said, don't panic when he goes through his flat spot, just keep him going and he'll hit his peak and that's what he did."
Zipping peeled off an amazing 22.27 seconds for the final 400 and 11.4 for the last 200.
Douro Valley settled outside the leader Red Ruler and appeared the winner until being bloused on the line.
It was the second time Douro Valley, runner-up in last year's Caulfield Cup, has run second in a major 2400m race.
Red Ruler battled on well in the straight, vindicating New Zealand trainer John Sargent's decision to bypass the Melbourne Cup with the four-year-old.