The Taj Mahal claims back-to-back victories in Zipping Classic

The Taj Mahal won his second Zipping Classic at Sandown on Saturday but it looks like the end of the road for another previous winner of the race, Who Shot Thebarman.

Trainer Chris Waller had forecast the ten-year-old was unlikely to return to the track to race again in 2019 if he did not find his best form and on Saturday the 2015 Zipping Classic winner looked a light of other days as he struggled into second-last place, albeit just five lengths from the winner.

In what turned out to be a thrilling race, favourite The Taj Mahal looked set for a comfortable win but the import Dal Harraild refused to yield on the rails and the pair went to the line with just a short half head separating them. A length-and-three-quarters away in third was the mare Our Libretto.

His victory for Ben Melham registered an eighth win for the Macedon Lodge team headed by Lloyd Williams in the race named after their former champion and four-time winner of the race.

Nick Williams said the Classic win made up for a tough spring for The Taj Mahal.

"He had hard runs in the Caulfield Cup and the Moonee Valley Cup, but he showed how tough he is to come out and do that today," he said.

Kerrin McEvoy was impressed with the fight shown by Dal Harraild.

"He ran great. He's very genuine and stays well," he said. "I look forward to seeing him progress into his next campaign because that's his second gallant performance here."

Dal Harraild's trainer Ciaron Maher said he felt confident his galloper was the real deal and said he expected to be saddling the horse in the Melbourne Cup next year.

Damian Lane was pleased with Our Libretto: "She ran really well. The solid tempo probably just took the sprint out of her finish."

Michael Walker, on Libran, said: "Just didn't back up."

Mark Zahra said the Melbourne Cup run may have taken the sting out of Ventura Storm's legs: "Just raced a bit flat today."

John Allen thought he was in line for another feature win aboard Lord Fandango, who tired to finish fourth.

"He ran well. It was a funny old race, nothing really changed. My horse ran well, he loomed up and just levelled out," he said.

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