Minnie Marvels In Zipping Strop's Near Record Return

WHEN Minnie Finn first got Zipping Strop to train from the Hallinan kennel, she reckoned he was the “dumbest dog we've ever had”.

“He came down with his littermates and the report was he had broken in ordinary and if he didn't make it, we should look to move him on,” said Minnie.

“But, he was very timid and we had to get him to overcome that, which we did by giving him the free rein of the kennels. It worked.”

Zipping Strop (Flying Ricciardo-Zipping Lilly), a half-brother to the Finn's great Zipping Kyrgios, was soon trialling the place down.

“When we started him off, he would run 20 seconds for the 300 metres at Richmond,” said Minnie.

“But within six trials, he was a superstar.

“He went to Wenty and trialled 29.50, and at Richmond he went 29.10.”

Zipping Strop went to the races and promptly lost his first two starts before putting together four in a row including a 29.34 at Richmond.

Tragedy struck in September last year when he broke his hock.

“We sent him to Linda Corney at Bowral and she did a fabulous job fixing him up,” said Minnie.

“Normally we would send injured dogs back to Marty and the team, but I decided to keep Strop with us,” said Minnie. “I liked him and he was just so fast.

“He was put in a run next to some pups when he had recovered from the broken hock.”

On Monday night at Maitland, Zipping Strop ran 24.68 to win a 5th Grade final by seven lengths giving the track record held by La Grand Quality of 24.56 a nudge.

It was his third win from three starts since that broken hock.

“Linda did such a wonderful job, when it came time to get the dog cleared in a trial, the vet at the track could not tell what had been wrong with him,” said Minnie.

Now Zipping Strop will head back to Maitland and then Minnie plans to take him back to Wentworth Park.

“He doesn't seem to have lost anything since he broke his hock,” said Minnie.

“But, you never know what he could have been by now if he stayed sound.”

She says the dog is pulling up great after each run.

“He is such a beautiful dog and lovely to have around the kennels,” said Minnie.

“You can give me a kennel full of Flying Ricciardos any day of the week.”

Minnie reports Zipping Strop's famous half brother, Zipping Kyrgios (32 wins, $590,000), has been well supported by the Hallinans who have mated six of their bitches to him in recent months.

FASTEST TIMES MAITLAND 450 METRES

Date	Time	Name
24-Oct-19	24.56	La Grand Quality
05-Jul-18	24.59	Pindari Express
05-Apr-18	24.63	Hone In
01-Mar-21	24.63	Flying Ricciardo
21-Nov-19	24.64	La Grand Quality
05-May-16	24.68	Old Spice
03-Oct-19	24.68	La Grand Quality
15-Apr-24	24.68	Zipping Strop
14-Mar-19	24.70	Fernando Blaster
19-Oct-17	24.71	Tristan Cannon