Race favourite The Taj Mahal (IRE) defended his title in Saturday's $300,000 Group II Zipping Classic at Sandown but not before he was given a length of the straight fight by the Bendigo Cup runner-up Dal Harraild (GB).
In a head-bobbing finish, The Taj Mahal (IRE) defeated Dal Harraild (GB) by a short-half-head with Our Libretto (O'Reilly one and three-quarter lengths back in third. (photo Darryl Sherer).
It was the eighth win in the race for Lloyd and Nick Williams with Zipping earning naming rights after four consecutive wins from 2007 to 2010.
An imported son of the champion Galileo, The Taj Mahal (IRE) became the second winner on the day to smash the million-dollar barrier as he advanced his record to 4 wins, 4 seconds and 3 thirds from 26 starts with earnings of $1,111,515.
"Ben gave him a good ride and I think the runner-up went particularly good," Nick Williams told AAP.
"When Ben got up alongside the other horse he thought he was going to win but to the second horse's credit, he fought to the line.
"It was a bob of the head and it could have gone either way."
"It (Sandown) is the best racetrack in Victoria given its geography and it gives every horse its chance."
The Taj Mahal (IRE) is a brother to four stakes winners headed by the 4-time Group 1 winner Gleneagles the Champion 2YO Colt in Europe & Ireland in 2014 and Champion 3YO Miler in Europe & Ireland in 2015.
His sister Happily won the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Chantilly and the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stud Stakes at The Curragh while another sister Marvellous was the Second Top Filly on The 2015 Irish 3YO Free Hcp and Joint Third Top Filly on The 2014 European 3YO Free Hcp following her win in the Group 1 One Thousand Guineas.
Yet another sister, Coolmore, won the Group III Park Stakes and placed in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks.
The five stakes winners are the first five foals to race out of the Group II Cherry Hinton Stakes winner You'resothrilling (Storm Cat) a sister to the champion Giant's Causeway.
