Valpolicella was the slowest of the three Group One Farrell's Association Cup heat winners but Queensland trainer Tony Zammit considers the Sydney-owned stayer was below her best at Wentworth Park last Saturday night.
Pre-post final favourite Palawa King won his heat in 42.19 with the Michelle Sultana-trained Al's Entity scoring in 42.26 and Valpolicella charging home late in 42.29.
But Tony Zammit believes Wentworth Park's washed-out weekend could have affected Valpolicella's Association Cup preparation.
"Her mission has always been the Ladbrokes 715, the $500,000 to the winner long distance races at The Gardens,'' Zammit explained.
"The heats of that race are on April 26 and I needed to give Valpolicella a trial there before that series took place.
"When the Association Cup heats were postponed it meant I had to trial Valpolicella over 715m last Monday, five days before those 720m races at Wentworth Park.
"I would not normally do that but my hand was forced.
"Valpolicella went well at The Gardens, clocking 41.58, which is not far off the track record.
"But I think that run may have taken the edge off her for Wentworth Park on Saturday night and I expect her to go better in Saturday's Association Cup final.
"Although she has gone from box one in her heat to box eight in the final I'm happy with her draw.
"In fact early in her career I preferred her drawn wide but Valpolicella has learned to use the inside boxes better as she has matured.
"But from box eight in the final at least she isn't going to get squashed up on the fence if she misses the jump.''
Palawa King has drawn box five in the final with Al's Entity in three.
Unlucky in the draw was former Victorian CANYA AMY, now trained in Sydney by David Smith.
In her heat last Saturday, CANYA AMY drew box six and was hampered trying to reacb the rails, resulting in her coming from a long last on the back straight to be beaten a length into second place by Al's Entity.
"There were two boxes left to pick from, one and four, and unfortunately CANYA AMY came up with box four,'' Daivd Smith said.
"I think she can still win but she is desperate for the fence and would have had a much better chance from box one.''
When Zipping Mario scored an upset win in Saturday night's Group 3 Ladbrokes Magic Maiden it gave leading NSW breeders the Hallinan family four victories since the race began in 2002.
Marty Hallinan owned and trained Gilderoy, the 2005 winner, while he raced and bred Zipping Man and Zipping Novak, the winners of the 2011 and 2022 finals.
Hallinan's son Cameron owns Zipping Mario, who is trained by Sam Sultana.
"When we put our bitch Zipipng Ticket to Kristy Sultana's stud dog Flying Ricciardo, Kristy asked us if she could possibly train any offspring resulting from the mating,'' Cameron said.
"We agreed and when he was ready Zipping Mario went into the kennels of Kristy's father Sam Sultana.
"The dog has ability but I must admit I didn't think he could win last Saturday's final, I didn't think he could get across to the rails from box seven.
"But it just goes to show, anything can happen in maiden races.''
Cameron Hallinan, 27, works full-time on his parents Fiona and Marty's rearing and breeding property.
"It's 12 hours a day, seven days a week, so I don't get much spare time,'' Cameron said.
