It’s a sure thing

By Gavin Staindl
WITH two of Darren McDonald’s dogs at bookends in the starting boxes for tonight’s Group One Sandown Cup, you’d be a brave punter to bet against the in-form Devon Meadows trainer.
The $143,000 Radio Sport 927 Sandown Cup is Australia’s richest staying event and McDonald, who recently won Australia’s richest sprint event, the Golden Easter Egg, is looking to continue his rich vain of form at Sandown Park tonight (13 May).
The Cup is one of few remaining conquests for the master trainer, who will prepare Countess of Cork and Reign Over Me for the big race.
And despite six of the past 21 Sandown Cup winners starting from box one, McDonald believes his best chance to secure an elusive Cup title will come from box eight in Reign Over Me.
“They are both outside runners. Countess of Cork could get caught on the inside and will need a bit of luck to get up, but the draw is fantastic for Reign Over Me,” McDonald said.
“He likes to come across the dogs and doesn’t like them coming across him, so box eight will suit him,” McDonald said.
After McDonald’s gun sprinter Cosmic Rumble scooped the prize pool in the $250 Easter Egg final last month, he quickly turned his attention to the one event that has continued to elude him.
“It is the biggest race in Australia,” he said.
Joining McDonald will be local rival Jason Thompson, who will be racing Next Top Model from box seven. The Pearcedale trainer won the event in 2004 with Proven Lethal.
Sandown racing manager Michael Floyd is expecting a healthy turnout tonight.
“Entry is free and last year we had about 1000 people turn out,” Floyd said.
“The stand is undergoing a big renovation at the moment, so we’re down on our capacity, but it really is a fantastic event and if the weather is good we should get a decent crowd.”