Zipping Orlando Salutes In The 715 Thriller

STAYER of the moment Zipping Orlando has won a thrilling edition of The Ladbrokes 715 at The Gardens on Saturday night.

In a nail-biting finish to the $500,000-to-the-winner showpiece, Zipping Orlando needed every inch of the 715 metre journey to run down tearaway leader Nangar Rocket in a dramatic finale to the world's richest staying race.

Such was the closeness of the photo finish, the judge mulled over the decision for a good 3-4 minutes before posting the result. 

But to the connections of Zipping Orlando and Nangar Rocket it would have felt like an eternity with a half-a-million dollars on the line.

After Zipping Orlando's number went into the frame, Minnie Finn, who trains the Association Cup winner with partner John, said she had a feeling he'd got there … just.

"When I saw him banging home down the back I thought he was going to get there," Finn said.

"With all the signs and trucks you can't see a lot from over there at the boxes but after the line he was a good half length in front so I thought he might have got there in time.

"Just a huge thrill. A really special night."

Owned by the all-conquering Hallinan family, Zipping Orlando has risen to superstardom as a stayer in a relatively short period of time.

What A THRILLER in the https://t.co/zcabOfHM3n 715 Final!!!

It was desperately tight… and after an agonizing wait… Zipping Orlando was the winner, from a brave Nangar Rocket!

Results: https://t.co/5ailKT2Sgn#thedogs #the715 Ladbrokes Gardens – Newcastle Greyhounds pic.twitter.com/qzInD0Q7eV

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) May 6, 2023

The son of the Hallinan family's stud dog Zipping Garth only stepped up to the staying trip in March before going on to win the Group 1 Association Cup in emphatic fashion.

And while the winner at 15 of his 27 starts, which launched his career annexing the Zoom Top Maiden (440m) at Goulburn last July, has turned into a topline stayer, Minnie admits she had her doubts early doors.

"I thought he was too brilliant to stay," Finn said.

"But John and Marty were adamant he would, I'm pretty sure they said it after his fifth start.

"He's just really come on and handled everything we've thrown his way. And it's only just the start as a stayer. It's still all ahead of him."

Remarkably, just 50 kilometres separate the Clergate base of the Hallinans and the Cudal home of the Barnes family which produced Zipping Orlando and Nangar Rocket to quinella the Ladbrokes sponsored The 715.

And just a further hour away is the Forbes base where Errol Hughes bred third placegetter Palawa King, trained by Jack Smith.

Fourth place was another Hallinan-bred chaser in Zipping Whiskey meaning the first four across the line were all bred in the central west of NSW.  

Zipping Orlando's winning time was 41.67 with the official margin on the line a half head while there was a further 1 ½ lengths to Palawa King.

The pulsating The 715 victory by Zipping Orlando continues the remarkable association Martin Hallinan has enjoyed with John and Minnie Finn.

Last year, the two combined to nearly take out the TAB Million Dollar Chase with Zipping Kyrgios, finishing second to McInerney.

That performance followed the sublime galloper's win in the world's richest middle distance event, the inaugural Country Classic at Dubbo.