Bailey Primed For Brisbane Belter

AN ideal box draw for Zipping Bailey in Thursday night's Group 1 Sky Racing Brisbane Cup (520m) has trainer Jason Mackay upbeat about his charge's prospects in the $250,000 to-the-winner showpiece.

Set to exit box three for Albion Park's flagship group 1 sprint event, Zipping Bailey progressed through to this week's final with a slashing 30.04 heat victory last Thursday, coming with her trademark booming finish to power over the top of two-time Group 1 winner Barooga Brett.

"I thought her heat run was enormous," said Mackay on Monday.

"When you look at the winner, he's run 29.08 at Sandown and 29.60 at The Meadows – he's won over 600m and two Group 1s. She gave him a start and still won and I expect her to improve even further this week with another look out of those boxes – I give her a big hope, especially from the draw."

A winner at 15 of her 23 starts in 2019, Zipping Bailey, a daughter of Barcia Bale and Zipping Willow, will be chasing a second group 1 title this Thursday, having annexed the Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park in last-to-first fashion on Easter Saturday.

"I stayed up in Queensland for the week in the lead up to the State Of Origin but she never really settled in 100% – she's much better at home where she's comfortable," stated Mackay.

"I decided to come straight home after her heat win last week and by Friday afternoon she was bouncing around like she hadn't been around.

"She had a few little issues leading into last week with a deltoid and I've had a full week now to get her right where I want her going into Thursday. I couldn't be happier with her.

"The thing I liked the most about last week was how she charged into the corner and got herself into the race, the start before there in the Origin (Sprint) you could tell she was just feeling her way around. The quicker they're going out in front the better because she'll get them, providing she gets the right run.

"I'd love to see her charge into the race at the 500m boxes on Thursday, it's a very hot race but I wouldn't swap her for anything."

Favourite for Thursday's Group 1 blockbuster is Tony Brett's fastest qualifier Black Opium, the daughter of Black Magic Opal a $3.00 chance with Bet365, chasing an elusive group 1 victory, having finished runner-up in the Australian and Melbourne Cups.

Second favourite is Steve White's Group 2 Queensland Derby winner Sennachie, the son of Fernando Bale quoted a $3.50 chance from box two after defeating Orson Allen in his 30.06 heat success.

The other two heats were taken out by Andrea Dailly-trained runners Dyna Patty (29.76) and Lucy's Milo (30.12), with Dyna Patty far more fancied in betting this Thursday from box four, the two-time Group 1 winner currently a $4.00 chance with Bet365.

"I'd love for her (Zipping Bailey) to win another group 1 because it would put her right up there," declared Mackay.

"The way they're drawn it looks like there could be a fair bit going on up front and if she can get the sit behind them and get the right run she'll put herself right there – she's racing with plenty of confidence and is spot on for this."

Victory in Thursday's Brisbane Cup would spiral Zipping Bailey's prizemoney earnings past the $600,000 barrier, and with the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase Series quickly approaching at her beloved Wentworth Park, who knows what that figure may well be when time's called on her outstanding career.