Series favourite Zack Monelli was sensationally beaten by distance debutant Tyler Durden in a heat of the RSN Sandown Cup last night.
A week after breaking a sectional record on his Sandown Park debut, Zack Monelli was rated a $1.20 chance to win his heat from box 1, however he was beaten for early speed by Tyler Durden from box 4 and the pair soon cleared away from the pack. While Tyler Durden would have been forgiven for tiring in his first attempt at the distance, especially given his near record split times, he showed great determination to hold off Zack Monelli to hold on by three quarters of a length in 41.743.
Dual group 1 winner Stanley Road had no such problems on his Sandown Park debut, showing his customary finishing burst to win his heat in 41.769. In an ominous sign for his rivals, caretaker trainer Paul Bartolo believed he’d improve six lengths next week, as he did after his first look at the Meadows in his successful Fanta Bale Super Stayers campaign.
Queenslander Maggie Moo Moo claimed the third heat in a barnstorming finish over South Australian star and group 1 Bold Trease runner up Sir Truculent in 41.971, while Kenny The Brute took out the final heat over We The People in 41.758.
The box draw for the $250,000 RSN Sandown Cup will conducted live on RSN927 at 9.45am on Saturday 22nd May and will be streamed on the Sandown Facebook page.
Click here for the RSN Sandown Cup pre-box draw market.
Also on Thursday night, Tiggerlong Tonk claimed his second group 1 by taking out a classic edition of the group 1 Harrison-Dawson, while Qwara Bale took out the Sapphire Crown.
Click here for full results and replays.
