Tasmanians Quinella The Sandown Cup

Written By Kevin Pitstock, Editor & Australian Greyhound Racing Expert Contributor Friday 16th May 2008

Tasmanian duo Chinatown Lad and Fallen Zorro gave trainer Shane Whitney his biggest thrill in racing when his star litter-mates quinellaed the $86,000 Group 1 Radio Sport 927 Sandown Cup at Sandown Park tonight.

Beginning brilliantly from box 2, Chinatown Lad ($2.30) assumed early control of the race ahead of Bye Bye Bones ($7) with Fallen Zorro ($5.20) close up third.

Chinatown Lad led at every split and was never in any danger of being caught by the chasing pack. That being the case, interest turned to the minor placegetters.

After encountering early trouble, Fallen Zorro chased down Bye Bye Bones in the shadows of the post to claim second, 4.75 lengths adrift of her littermate.

Chinatown Lad’s wining time of 42.14 was the second fastest ever Sandown Cup, just 0.02 seconds behind 2004 Cup winner Proven Lethal. It was his 14th win from 26 starts, and the $60,000 first prize lifted his career stake money to $127,125.

The Sandown Cup has been won bu some of Australia’s best stayer, none better or more impressive than the Warrnambool Warrior, Bold Trease; who’s reord of four Sandown Cups will never be matched.

Here is the complete history of the Sandown Cup :

1982 Status Supreme B. Barrington 3 len x nk 44.32
1983 Lead Role D. Holmes 2 len x hd 43.96
1984 Raurimu K. Chalker 5 len x 3 len 43.41
1985 Tashla N. Renshaw Nk x ¾ len 44.00
1986 Bold Trease N. McCullagh 6 len x ns 43.84
1987 Bold Trease N. McCullagh 2 len x DH 43.59
1988 Bold Trease N. McCullagh 2 len x ½ hd 44.05
1989 Bold Trease N. McCullagh 1½ len x 1½ len 43.85
1990 Western Creole O. Lockett 8 len x ½ hd 43.84
1991 Pixie Eyes D. Stavropoulos ½ nk x ¾ len 44.15
1992 Village Stomper P. Newman ¾ len x 1 len 43.84
1993 Eliza Dylan W. Allars 3½ len x ½ len 44.01
1994 Top Sovereign J. Westerlo ½ hd x 3 len 43.74
1995 Keon Star R. Crisafi 1½ len x 1½ len 43.09
1996 Boronia Blossom R. Ball ½ hd x nk 42.79
1997 Tonight’s Wish A. Britton 2 len x ½ hd 42.49
1998 Red Mystique D. Mahoney ½ len x ½ len 42.46
1999 Smart Attitude D. Irwin 9½ len x ½ len 42.27
2000 Osti’s Joker S. Barker 4 len x ¾ len 42.26
2001 Bentley Babe P. Dapiran Hd x nk 42.54
2002 Jennev L. Britton ¾ len x 2¼ len 42.46
2003 Arvo’s Junior G. Arvanitis 1 len x 4¾ len 42.48
2004 Proven Lethal J. Thompson 3¾ len x 4¼ len 42.12
2005 Best Quoted J. Mooney 2½ len x 3¾ len 42.33
2006 Sargent Major P. Giles 1 len x 2¼ len 42.50
2007 NO RACE
2008 Chinatown Lad S. Whitney 4¾ len x nk 42.14

In the night’s support feature, 2007 Schweppes Melbourne Cup winner Shanlyn Prince claimed his first win at the Lightwood Road circuit since his emphatic Cup victory when he took out the $14,500 Dave Hodgson Memorial.

Shanlyn Prince began brilliantly to avoid trouble in an incident-packed race, striding to a 3.25 length victory in 29.60 – identical to the time in which he claimed the Melbourne Cup.

Earlier in the night, Sky Hazzard scored a popular victory in the Special Event over 715m. Trained by 79 year old Don Hazzard, the trainer at the centre of the infamous 2007 ‘no race’ and star of the popular Sandown Cup advertising campaign, Sky Hazzard proved too strong in the run to the line, holding out Just Friends by a nose in 42.54.