2006 Sandown Cup winner Sargent Major is on a mission to win back-to-back titles in the 715m $86,000 race tonight. DEFENDING Sandown Cup winner Sargent Major will be looking for back to back glory in the $86,0000 Group 1 race tonight after blitzing the field in his heat at Sandown Park last week.
In his return to racing, and jumping from box seven, Sargent Major ($4.90) began well but had to work hard from his wide box to head off surprise leader Holly Rock ($11.50) entering the straight the first time.
But the Peter Giles’ superstar was never threatened, powering to the line in 42.48 seconds, 2.5 lengths clear of the gallant Holly Rock, with odds-on favourite Kibble Kruncha ($1.30) a further neck away in third place.
In an ominous sign for his rivals, Giles was confident of improvement in Sargent Major, given this was just his third run back from having his tonsils removed.
Flashing Floods showed why she is widely regarded as Australia’s best stayer after blowing her rivals away in the final heat.
Trained by Gerald Cunnold, Flashing Floods ($1.50 favourite) jumped quickly from box five and opened up a 10-length lead after one circuit.
The chasing pack made late ground, but Flashing Floods proved far too good, stopping the clock in 42.50 seconds.
Flashing Floods resumed her racing career late last year after whelping a litter of five pups in June, and has since won 19 of 22 starts, including four Group races.
She will start favourite in tonight’s Sandown Cup.
The rapidly improving Infinite Charm ($21.30) gave Giles his second Cup finalist, finishing 5.5 lengths adrift.
Recent Group 3 Lizrene Classic and reigning Queensland Greyhound of the Year Miss Brook ($1.40 favourite) will also prove hard to beat, coming from near last in the back straight to defeat Turbo Uno ($8.10) by 2.75 lengths.
Miss Brook broke the Albion Park 710m track record at her previous start despite nursing a slight hamstring injury, and trainer Paul Felgate is confident of further improvement in the final.
Surf Rescue ($20.60) caused the upset of the night when he defeated Sky Hazzard ($3.40) by three-quarters of a length.
The pair cleared away from the field entering the back straight to set up a dramatic sprint to the line.
Despite switching back to the rails and gaining an inside run, Sky Hazzard was unable to bridge the gap on Surf Rescue, the latter stopping the clock in 42.48. Favourite Miss Grub ($1.70) overcame a tardy start to flash home for third.
