Ageless Ebby Set For Super Stayers  

AGELESS stayer Ebby Ripper will tackle a third successive Group 1 Super Stayers Series (725m) at The Meadows this Saturday night, embarking on what’s likely to be her final racing campaign before retiring to the breeding barn for her breeder, owner and trainer Michael Eberand.

AGELESS stayer Ebby Ripper will tackle a third successive Group 1 Super Stayers Series (725m) at The Meadows this Saturday night, embarking on what's likely to be her final racing campaign before retiring to the breeding barn for her breeder, owner and trainer Michael Eberand.

With her fourth birthday just behind her, Ebby Ripper, winner at 25 of her 101 starts, has amassed $275,000 in stake earnings for Eberand during a stellar career, with the Oakville conditioner telling the Recorder on Friday that his crowd pleasing stayer will be all the better for the hit-out this Saturday.

"I'm hoping she runs well, it looks like the Bendigo run last week has really tightened her up but she has got the job ahead – this is just her third run back and I've always preferred her at Sandown over The Meadows, Sandown suits the way she runs her races better," explained Eberand.

"She was actually meant to be racing at Wentworth Park on Saturday but they didn't get the race they advertised for. At this stage of her career I'd really like to keep her a level off the top if I can but that's difficult with stayers, I still expect her to be competitive with the right run on Saturday."

Drawn box four in the second heat of the $100,000 to-the-winner group 1 series, now named in recognition of last year's winner, champion Fanta Bale, Ebby Ripper takes on Poco Dorado, John Finn's star galloper drawing box one following her sixth to Tornado Tears in last week's Group 1 Zoom Top.

"Ebby had eight weeks off with injury and just for some fitness I threw her in a 520m at Wenty a few weeks back and she got home well," explained Eberand.

"I thought her last run at Bendigo over the 660m was very good, she got home well into second but she did die on her run turning for home. That really wasn't a surprise at her second run back, I don't really trial her either.

"That run will really bring her on and if she happens to qualify for the final next week then she'll definitely be better again. Just the three heats does help her chances of getting through."

Whilst an expiry date hasn't been put on Ebby Ripper's outstanding career, Eberand says he's taking it race by race with the daughter of Sh Avatar and Ebby Miss, set to thrill racegoers with her devastating finishes for a little while yet.

"At her age I'm just letting her tell me, while she's happy and keen we'll see what we can find for her," added Eberand.

"If she's going well the Gold Cup, which she won last year, and the Association Cup, are both races coming up at Wenty for her.

“Even a trip to New Zealand in June isn't out of the question if she's still up to it."

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