Sandown Classic

The Sandown Classic is a Group 2 weight-for-age race held at Sandown racecourse each November at the end of the Melbourne spring racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 2400 metres and worth $350,000 in prizemoney. The 2011 Sandown Classic was won by Americain from Manighar with Mourayan third.

The Classic is held one week after the final day of the Flemington spring carnival and was previously known as the 'Sandown Cup', but from 1999 has been known as the Sandown Classic and tough stayer Zipping has won the race for the last four years in a row. It was run as the Zipping Classic for the 2011/2012 racing season.

Held on the Melbourne Racing Club's major meeting of the year at Sandown, the race takes place alongside the Gr2 Sandown Guineas, Gr3 Sandown Stakes and Gr2 Eclipse Stakes.

Sandown Classic info
Date:	Saturday 17th November 2012
Track:	Sandown racecourse, Melbourne
Distance:	2400 metres
Race Type:	2yo+ Open Weight-for-age
Status:	Group 2
Prizemoney:	$350,000
2011 Winner:	Americain

The Sandown Classic is a good second tier staying race that takes place after the Flemington major spring carnival in November and attracts horses looking for something a bit easier than the Group 1 staying races on offer at Caulfield and Flemington.

Horses who may have contested the Gr2 Moonee Valley Cup at Moonee Valley on WS Cox Plate day or the Gr3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Emirates Stakes day may consider racing in this event.

Sandown has a long straight with an uphill run home and sorts out the pretenders from the contenders when the going gets tough in the run to the line. The Sandown Classic is a good race for out and out stayers and suits horses who can run out a strong 2400 metres.

Americain (2011) ran fourth in the Melbourne Cup over 3200m at Flemington prior to winning this event and Zipping (2007-2010) won the Sandown Classic the previous four years.

Spring Carnival Guide
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the final day of the Flemington carnival has been a handy guide to this event in recent times. Gallant Guru (2006) won the Queen Elizabeth & Sandown Classic double, while Grey Song (2nd in 2005), Fantastic Love (2nd in 2004), Zazzman (3rd in 2003) all won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes prior to tackling the Sandown Classic.

Jukebox Johnny (2nd in 2007), Show Barry (3rd in 2006) both placed in the Moonee Valley Cup before placing in this race. Legible (2003) won this race after running 2nd in the Moonee Valley Cup, while Sydeston (1989) managed to win the Moonee Valley Cup & Sandown Classic double the same year.

2011 Sandown Classic result
1. $1.55 Americain 59.0 Gerald Mosse
2. $13.00 Manighar 59.0 Dwayne Dunn
3. $4.80 Mourayan 59.0 Hugh Bowman

then followed
4. $9.00 Lamasery 59.0 Brenton Avdulla
5. $61.00 Saptapadi 59.0 Danny Nikolic

Margins: 3/4 len, short 1/2 head
Time: 2:37.87

Sandown Classic recent winners & placegetters
Year	Winner	2nd	3rd	Time
2011	Americain	Manighar	Mourayan	2:37.8
2010	Zipping	Exceptionally	Manighar	2:39.4
2009	Zipping	Purple	Master O'reilly	2:32.2
2008	Zipping	Douro Valley	Red Ruler	2:35.0
2007	Zipping	Jukebox Johnny	Baughurst	2:33.7
2006	Gallant Guru	Casual Pass	Show Barry	2:30.8
2005	Roman Arch	Grey Song	Expunge	2:33.7
2004	Count Ricardo	Fantastic Love	Media Puzzle	2:37.9
2003	Legible	Distinctly Secret	Zazzman	2:29.8
2002	Hail	Hill Of Grace	Grey Song	2:27.9
2001	Sky Heights	King Keitel	Cinder Bella	2:28.3
2000	Brave Chief	Forgotten Hero	Pasta Express	2:24.3
1999	Aerosmith	Zerpour	Northern Drake	2:30.3
1998	Cheviot	Lisas Game	Peak Of Perfection	2:31.4
1997	Star Binder	Galilean	Miss Tessla	2:35.6
1996	Royal Snack	Count Chivas	Circles Of Gold	2:28.1
1995	Count Chivas	Yes Indeed	Waikikamukau	2:28.0
1994	Our Pompeii	Long Tan	Doriemus	2:32.4
1993	Tawlord	Bon Precieux	Top Rating	2:26.2
1992	Silk Ali	Sky Flyer	Brave Expectations	2:26.5
1991	Stylish Century	Mantlepiece	Princess Pushy	2:29.4
1990	Pressmans Choice	Bassies Pride	Shuzohra	2:29.0
1989	Sydeston	Ideal Centreman	Gopak	2:30.7
1988	Conbituate Lady	Concordance	Tawrrific	2:29.2