Sydney Cup Beckons For Resurgent Kansas

AT 49 months of age and for the first time this year, Zipping Kansas returned to the winner's list at Wentworth Park on September 27.

His surging 29.69 effort – while outside his cracking 520m 29.40 personal best time at the Glebe circuit – might have given owner-trainer Martin Hallinan the impetus to tackle Wednesday's rich Masters Meteor heats but that draw has been conducted and the son of Superior Panama is not there.

His target will be the Group 1 Sydney Cup series over 720m and Hallinan is confident the veteran will race boldly.

"He's had his share of injuries and is a difficult dog to get 100 percent right," Hallinan said.

"Wide boxes are his preference and, when drawn on the inside, he gets cluttered up and takes some time to get back into top gear.

"This is the Kansas of old!" – @Mjackson_racing

Zipping Kansas was back in the winner's circle at @WentyParkGreys last night, recording a slick 29.69 5 3/4L win in the Masters.

Full Results: https://t.co/ff6kCKeYsa#thedogs pic.twitter.com/NkSSPjUzRm

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) September 28, 2023

"Stopper bone and tendon issues have kept him off the track … he's a dog which needs constant racing and only now have I been able to slip him up my straight on a week-to-week basis.

"Mostly, he's needed time off and then we start again."

Before last week's win at Wenty, his vastly experienced trainer considered the fawn dog to be back to his best.

"It's been very frustrating but he is an out-and-out stayer in my view and can run 800m ‘on his ear' let alone a strong 720m," Hallinan added.

"In his 520m win, he got the line in 11.38 which is quite remarkable and he's more likely to get room to move in the Cup heats rather than the Masters Meteor."

It was in the Sydney Cup heats last year when Zipping Kansas posted his 41.44 PB at Wenty but he finished only fourth to Super Estrella in the $100,000 to-the-winner final.

Now injury free, Zipping Kansas will be ready to run the race of his life in Friday's Sydney Cup heats which will be run in conjunction with the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase.