The Darren Weir-trained Big Duke will be one of two stayers in the Zipping Classic out to add their name to horses which have won the weight-for-age race after contesting the Melbourne Cup.
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Big Duke finished fourth in the $6m Melbourne Cup, 3200m, and drops back to 2400m in Saturday's group 2 $300,000 Zipping Classic at Sandown.
Seven of the past 10 Zipping Classics winners have run in the Melbourne Cup.
Weir's Warrnambool stable foreman Jarrod McLean indicated the Ballarat trainer was aware of the Zipping Classic history when deciding to head there with Big Duke.
"Weiry said horses coming back from the Melbourne Cup have a good record in the Zipping Classic, so I think that's his reason for being there," McLean said.
He said Big Duke pulled up well after the Melbourne Cup. "He never runs badly.”
Big Duke’s seven starts this spring have included a win in the St Leger Stakes, in Sydney, second in the Metropolitan and fourths in the Moonee Valley and Melbourne Cups.
