Fowler Goes From Giveaway To Eight Straight

WHEN Londonderry trainer Sam Simonetta was asked back in February to take over the training of Zipping Fowler he was wary to say the least.

The Zack Monelli-Zipping Fleur bitch had originally been in the Minnie Finn kennel, winning six races, including two at Wentworth Park.

Then sold to Glen McKinley, the bitch was sent straight to Western Australia to further her racing career.

In her next eight starts, Zipping Fowler was placed just once.

Having lost all form, McKinley asked Simonetta if she could come back to NSW and join his kennel.

FIELDS AND FORM RICHMOND WEDNESDAY NIGHT

"I suppose at that time she wouldn't have been worth $1000, she was probably a giveaway," Simonetta said.

"I gave her a couple of slips up the straight, she ran 18.30 in a trial over the 320 metres at Richmond and I put her in."

Zipping Fowler promptly won her first two and Glen took the opportunity to sell her on.

Peter Wallace bought her and it is history now that she has won eight in a row for Sam, six of them under Peter's ownership.

"Peter is absolutely wrapped … and why wouldn't he be," Simonetta said.

Among those wins was a last start victory over Richmond record holder Flash Jet.

"I've had a lot of dogs over many years," Simonetta said.

"Some of them have won two or three in a row, but never eight in a row."

Now, Zipping Fowler runs on Wednesday night in a 320m FFA at Richmond out of box eight and her trainer is confident.

That's not only because of her impeccable form, but because his daughter Chrissy will be in action with Zipping Fowler again.

"She loves her," Simonetta added.

"Chrissy always handles her, but the best thing is, Chrissy is always in the kennels sitting with her. And, as we all know, don't change a winning formula."

Simonetta is now prompting Peter Wallace to make sure he breeds a litter with Zipping Fowler in the future.

"When Glen first asked me back in February to take her on, I told him I had pups coming into the kennels in three or four months and she would have to be gone to make room for them," he added.

"Now, I'm not letting her go anywhere. I'll make room for her for sure when the pups arrive.

"I love a challenge in this business, especially when they work out as successfully as this bitch has."