Australia’s – and indeed the world’s – premier distance greyhound race, the $250,000 Group 1 RSN Sandown Cup (715m) has been dominated by Victorian-trained stayers over the last decade, with Tasmanian star Chinatown Lad in 2008, the last interstater to reign supreme.
That could well change on Thursday night, with West Australian frontrunner ZACK MONELLI (Box 1), albeit based with ‘caretaker’ Victorian trainer Lyn Smith, TAB’s clear-cut $2.60 favourite to claim the $175,000 winner’s purse despite a shock heat defeat.
Next in betting at $3.30 is NSW dynamo STANLEY ROAD (Box 6), currently Australia’s number one-ranked stayer, already a two-time G1 winner in 2021 of the Association Cup and Fanta Bale Super Stayers, while he was also runner-up in the G1 Zoom Top.
Adding to the interstate flavour is another WA visitor in WE THE PEOPLE (Box 2), second to Zack Monelli in the recent G1 Galaxy in her home state and currently based with astute Victorian mentors Jamie and Brooke Ennis for her Sandown Cup campaign. Prolific South Australian SIR TRUCULENT (Box 3) and Queenslander MAGGIE MOO MOO (Box 5) round out the five-strong interstate brigade.
Remarkably, the past four Sandown Cups have been won by trainers based in Lara, which is where the Ennis’ live.
While the ‘border hoppers’ hold a strong hand, the fastest of last Thursday night’s four heat winners was Victorian staying debutant TYLER DURDEN (Box 7), trained by Jeff Britton.
A three-time G1 sprint finalist this year, Tyler Durden led all-the-way in 41.74sec to upset $1.20 favourite Zack Monelli.
The second fastest qualifier was remarkably another Victorian that was being tested for the first time over ‘700’ in Kel Greenough’s KENNY THE BRUTE (Box 8), however the market suggests the ‘second up’ syndrome could be a concern for both staying novices with Tyler Durden at $10 and Kenny The Brute at $19.
Also new to the staying caper is middle distance sensation ZIPPING RAMBO (Box 4), which is being kept safe at $7.50 after running second to G1 winners Stanley Road and Zack Monelli at his only two 715m assignments.
Thursday’s meeting will also feature the Listed Cup Night Stayers (715m), the GR8 Eight Special Event (515m), featuring last week’s G1 Sapphire Crown heroine Qwara Bale, and the Judy Hayley Memorial (515m), restricted to lady trainers.
Meanwhile, Thursday’s Sandown Quaddie starts at Race 5 and boasts a projected pool of $150,000.
