Caption: Trainer Ken Boody (right) and catcher Bernie Fraser with Zip Stream, a brilliant winner of Tuesday night’s Listed $25,000 North Queensland Cup (498m). (Photo: Louise Partland)
By MIKE HILL
QUEENSLAND country’s sprint darling Zip Stream is heading to Brisbane for the QGold series after her stunning victory in the Listed $25,000 North Queensland Cup (498m) at Townsville last night (Tuesday night).
Zip Stream, the heavily-supported $1.85 favourite, began well from box eight before exploding away from her rivals down the back straight.
The Ken Boody-trained sprinter was never challenged, winning by almost four lengths after leading by as much as six at one stage.
Balts Orson ($9.50), prepared by Jay Schafer, was a gallant runner-up with $51 outsider Urana Lot (Heath Ardle) a close third, while $3.50 second fancy Paulie Walnuts (Tony Parker) flashed home late from well back to run fourth.
The winner ran a smart 28.70s – a fraction slower than her 28.66s heat victory seven nights earlier.
Owner Amber Boody said she was extremely happy for Zip Stream and the win.
“They’ve just got home, I think Ken is probably asleep,” said the trainer’s aunty, commenting on the long 11-hour-plus drive back from Townsville to their Dalma base west of Rockhampton.
“It was how we were hoping she would go,” Amber said. “The eight box was always our biggest worry, but she went well.
“We’ve had a fantastic year with her.”
Victory in the $15,600-to-the-winner Cup final took Zip Stream’s wonderful record to 31 wins and 10 placings from 62 starts and lifted her prizemoney to just under $104,000.
And it’s been a huge year for the black daughter of Zipping Garth and Night Time Lover with 21 victories so far in 2022.
She is one of the most consistent sprinters racing and currently sits in equal fifth place on the national list of dogs with the most wins behind leader Orson Laurie (28).
Her winning strike rate stands at a high 66 per cent.
At one stage, earlier in the year, she had strung together 15 wins and two placings from 17 starts, including 10 in a row.
Zip Stream’s 2022 feature successes include the Rockhampton Young Guns (407m)-Grand Prix (510m) double, the Townsville Young Guns (498mm), the $24,000 Rocky Wildcard (510m) and a third placing behind Dulceria in the G3 Rocky Cup Final (510m) in late April.
When asked if Zip Stream was the best sprinter she’d owned, Amber said: “She’s up there with the best.”
The proud owner also confirmed the sprinter would now head to Brisbane on Sunday to contest the QGold series.
“I’m not too sure what else Ken has planned for her,” she said.
