Steel Zip trials for last campaign

Veteran Queensland sprinter Steel Zip will trial this week as he prepares for what will probably be his last campaign.

The nine-year-old has many fans in Queensland because of his almost white coat and tough attitude to racing.

Steel Zip has had 74 starts for 11 wins, 20 minor placings and $915,000 prize money.

More than half his races have been in stakes company (44) and he has won five times at that level.

The gelding had his first start six years ago on November 11, 2010, when he was second in an Ipswich maiden.

“This will almost certainly be his last hurrah, although he doesn’t seem to know it. He really likes life in the stable and his trips to the beach,” trainer Pat Duff said.

“He raced well again during the winter being stakes-placed in the Eye Liner Stakes and Ramornie Handicap and finishing a close-up fourth in the Glasshouse Mountains Sprint.”

“But the time is looming when he will be retired. I have said all along that I would never risk him if there is any doubt about his ability to continue racing.”

Duff took Steel Zip to Toowoomba last week to work between races and was going to trial him last Thursday at Doomben.

“But he didn’t need to trial on Thursday and I will trial him instead this week at Deagon,” Duff said.

He said Steel Zip’s main mission would be the $1 million QTIS Magic Millions race on January 13.

“Steel Zip ran third to Buffering in it last year and it looks the type of race he can win this time,” he said.

“I haven’t decided on his comeback run just yet because there area few Group races which wouldn’t suit him. But there is a 1350m race in a couple of weeks at Doomben which is his likely comeback.”