Trainer John Petersen will back up Zippy Lou in next week's Group One Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm if the talented mare is successful in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich.Zippy Zou earned a shot at Saturday's 1350-metre feature with an impressive victory over the same distance at Doomben on June 11.It was the daughter of Street Cry's first start since finishing second at Doomben on March 12 and her seventh win from 12 starts.Petersen has retained Jason Taylor for the four-year-old and

Trainer John Petersen will back up Zippy Lou in next week's Group One Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm if the talented mare is successful in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich.

Zippy Zou earned a shot at Saturday's 1350-metre feature with an impressive victory over the same distance at Doomben on June 11.

It was the daughter of Street Cry's first start since finishing second at Doomben on March 12 and her seventh win from 12 starts.

Petersen has retained Jason Taylor for the four-year-old and is hoping the Gold Coast rider can continue his Stradbroke Handicap-winning form on Zippy Lou.

"It was great to see Jason win the Stradbroke on Sincero and I was only talking to him yesterday about it and hoping he could continue that form on my mare at Ipswich," Petersen said.

Petersen is not concerned with the prospect of backing up Zippy Lou in the Winter Stakes.

"She's never backed up before but she always pulls up well after a race so I don't see it being a problem," he said.

Petersen was impressed with Zippy Lou's comeback win and expects another strong showing in the Gai Waterhouse Classic.

"She was very impressive when she won first-up," Petersen said.

"She had a bad alley (12) so she had to be used early to get across, then she was able to take a sit before going on with it.

"She's done a treat since and had a big blow after the Doomben win so there's a lot of improvement in her.

"I think she's spot-on for tomorrow and if she races well she'll go on to the Winter Stakes."

Petersen hasn't ruled out sending Zippy Lou interstate for the spring if her good form continues.

"I was going to send her Sydney last campaign but I decided at the last minute to stay home," he said.

"If she wins the Gai Waterhouse she may have to go to Sydney or Melbourne anyway as she'll probably get too much weight up here.

"She's still got to prove she's up to this sort of class and I prefer to take one run at a time."