Bailey Begins Bracelet Assault

Zipping Bailey will be out to emulate the deeds of her mother Zipping Willow when she steps out in Saturday night’s heats of the Ladies Bracelet at Wentworth Park.

GOLDEN Easter Egg heroine Zipping Bailey will be out to emulate the deeds of her mother Zipping Willow when she steps out in Saturday night's heats of the Group 3 Evans & Sons Jewellers Ladies Bracelet (520m) at Wentworth Park.

Back in 2014, Zipping Willow was a resounding winner of the bitches' only group 3 feature for trainer Jason Mackay and owners Martin and Fiona Hallinan, with the combination enjoying further success in the series two years later, with Zipping Lilly claiming the $25,000 to-the-winner finale in a thrilling finish.

Watch: Zipping Willow's 2014 Ladies Bracelet victory

Lining up in the fourth and final Bracelet heat this Saturday night, Zipping Bailey has drawn box four, with Bet365 installing the daughter of Barcia Bale a $2.20 favourite, just ahead of Bad Neighbour for Evelyn Harris, confirming her series prospects with a tremendous last start second in a blistering 29.59.

"Early on she was searching for gaps in her races that just weren't there, she's racing with a lot more maturity and track sense now which has been the making of her," said Mackay of his Golden Easter Egg winner.

"There looks to be a bit of speed in her heat on Saturday, she'll drop out (early) and if she gets the right runs she'll get a crack at them late, I liked what I saw from her on Saturday diving up on the rails."

While Zipping Bailey is Mackay's headline act for Saturday night's Bracelet qualifiers, the Richmond Vale conditioner has warned punters not to totally discard former Victorian Flying Apollo in heat three, the daughter of Goodesy currently a $6.00 chance, taking on Association Cup winner Veloce Nero ($3.20 – box two) and in-form chaser Little Jebrynah ($1.95 – box one).

"I'm still working her out but I found out on Saturday she needs to lead to win," said Mackay.

"It was a funny run Saturday. I was pretty confident with her off her run the week before but she was disappointing. The stewards said she hit the rail down the back but no excuses.

"It's a strong race on Saturday so she'll need to come out running to be a chance, there's not a thing wrong with her though and she can run a section. Her blood profiles are spot on, she's right to go."

Heading to the races with six live chances on Saturday, Mackay looks to play a strong hand in the Bob Payne Sprint heats (520m) for the boys as well, with recent kennel acquisition North ($2.25) drawn box one in the second qualifier, while fresh off a flying Gosford win on Tuesday, 2018 Maitland Cup hero Aston Duke ($4.50 – box two) tackles Pindari Express ($2.35 – box one) and Buck's Future ($2.80 – box five) in a mouthwatering fourth heat.

"North's heat looks a race between him and Tap Out Dusty (box two), I'd say whoever leads out of the first turn will be hard to beat," said Mackay.

"I haven't had North for all that long, he does like to shift off from the inside so he'll need to come out off the red, he's fit enough for Saturday but the run will do him good as well.

"Aston Duke couldn't be boxed worse outside Pindari Express in his heat, he'll need to come out like he did at Gosford on Tuesday. I couldn't be happier with how he's going, he's a good chance if he steps and finds the front – I'm happy to take the favourite on."

Mackay's promising night rounds out in race nine, where Ombre Rose and Flowing take their place from boxes one and eight respectively.

Early markets have the speedy Ombre Rose a $2.20 chance off the inside, while Flowing, a gallant second to Aston Duke at Gosford on Tuesday night, is quoted a $4.80 elect.

"She's got a stack of speed this bitch," Mackay said of Ombre Rose, winner at one of her seven previous city starts for Glen McKinley.

"She didn't try a yard when she didn't lead at Gosford on Tuesday and she was bouncing around the next morning like she hadn't been around. She'll run 5.40 early off the red Saturday and there's not much speed in the race. Flowing isn't without a hope either, she's boxed well wide and if she can get across early will be in the finish."

Best Bet: Race 7 Number 1 Little Jebrynah
Best Value: Race 10 Number Cosmic Zesta
Quaddie: 1/6/8 – 7/8 – 1/2/4 – 3/4

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