Zipping Novak Out To Ace Goulburn Gold Cup

A blinding near record heat victory has resurgent sprinter Zipping Novak poised to hand trainer of the moment Jason Magri a third Ladbrokes Goulburn Cup (440m) title on Friday.

Zipping Novak roared into the group 3 decider with an electrifying 24.27 heat romp, a time that has only track record holder Wow along with Zipping Remus and Mellcat Big Boy ahead of him in the overall Goulburn 440m time standards.

Magri – riding the crest of a winning wave – has tasted Goulburn Cup glory on two previous occasions, first with Loathsome in 2011 before Clock's Ticking's heroics in 2016.

FIELDS AND FORM GOULBURN FRIDAY

With the race going from strength-to-strength, this year's winning connections will scoop a cool $40,000 for their troubles, a far cry from the $5,000 first prize Loathsome banked back in 2011.

"The race has definitely come a long way," Magri said.

"And it's been reflected in the quality of field for the final – it's a hot race with a heap of chances.

"My dog is going as good as he's ever gone but he'll need to race right up to what he did last week in the heats. Going from box one to box four doesn't make it any easier.

"But I couldn't be happier with him. He's really hit a purple patch of form."

If Zipping Novak annexes the Goulburn Cup it will be a third group race victory for the sprinting ace, having launched his career with a win in the Group 3 Magic Maiden before going on to claim a Group 2 Richmond Derby.

"If you go through his form you'll see he's hardly put in a bad race," the trainer added.

"He started his career in group company and has never really left it. Boxes, distance and opposition don't really faze him, he's always thereabouts.

"To add a Goulburn Cup to what he's already done would be great."

While Cup favouritism is with Zipping Novak at $3.10, support has continued to roll in for the Andy Lord-trained pairing of Nangar Larry ($3.40) and One Hot Bandit ($4.60), drawn boxes six and eight respectively.

The Jason Magri purple patch continues with Zipping Novak belting them in his heat of the G3 Goulburn Cup.

The Richmond Derby winner stopped the clock in 24.27, just a length outside the track record of Wow.

Full Result: https://t.co/KAMhH71G0i#thedogs pic.twitter.com/aYhZXOTmdr

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) October 20, 2023

No stranger to Goulburn Cup glory himself, the Gunning mentor landed three of the four heats last Friday, with Nangar Larry, a recent high-priced kennel acquisition, the most impressive in recording a blinding 24.29.

Following his Goulburn Cup onslaught, Magri will turn his attention to Wentworth Park on Saturday night where boom youngster Zipping Megatron will be chasing a third straight victory.

In recent weeks the prodigious talent has carved out city wins in 29.42 and 29.44 to establish himself as the state's most exciting chaser.

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Group 3 Ladbrokes Goulburn Cup Final (440m)

Race 8, Friday, 5.17pm

1. Quantifiable $4.50
2. Nangar Jim $15
3. Coin Model $9
4. Zipping Novak $3.10
5. Scorching Boy $34
6. Nangar Larry $2.80
7. Canya Smurfette $31
8. One Hot Bandit $4.80