Britton: Gypsy Wyong Great Value In Sandown Cup

MASTER conditioner of stayers Robert Britton believes Gypsy Wyong represents good value in one of the most open Sandown Cup finals he can recall in his time in the sport.

Britton is one of the most accomplished trainers of stayers in the country, winning seven group 1 staying events at Sandown Park alone over the last decade.

Among those wins are two Sandown Cups, including the 2018 edition which saw him prepare the first three placegetters.

FIELDS AND FORM SANDOWN PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

Britton does not have a runner in Thursday night's final, a race he believes has as many as six or seven winning chances.

"And that's unusual for a Sandown Cup," he said.

"Normally you can narrow it down to two or three chances and the rest are roughies."

Unusually, all finalists have form over the 715m distance and have won in 41.73 or quicker, a time that would have won all but three Sandown Cups since the change in track surface and timing mechanism first used in 2011.

That, according to Britton, coupled with the considerable early speed in the race, makes the start crucial to several runner's chances.

"I think it's going to be very hard for those three outside dogs (Golden Quest, Untapped and Jarrick Bale) because of the pace in the race, but if one of them do get across then they really can go early.

"I would think that one of them, if they can lead, they're in the race. But if it's like a lot of Sandown Cups and all that pace to the first turn and there's a bit of trouble, I'd be looking to the inside dogs to hold their ground. Mepunga Ruby or Collinda Lady are going to be right there."

Britton believes conditions will also be an important factor in the race.

Ideal conditions on heats night generally suited runners on the speed leading to fast times across the card, but with showers predicted leading into Thursday evening, a heavier track will potentially change the way the race is run.

"I'd look at the first seven races and if it's playing well, I'd look to who is going to lead and work on that. I'm not saying they're going to win, but they'll be in it a long way,” he added.

"(But) if, after the first seven races it's playing a lot slower than last week I'd be coming back to the tried and true stayers – Mepunga Ruby and Gypsy Wyong – because they're the ones that'll still be there in the tough conditions.

Gypsy Wyong storms home and takes out another G1 ??

She makes it an incredible 15 wins from 28 starts… What a star! pic.twitter.com/nJd6Di0Dxi

— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) November 26, 2021

"You've still got to look at the dogs that have done it on the big stage and Gypsy Wyong and Mepunga Ruby are the stand outs over the distance."

Mepunga Ruby is rated a $2.60 chance to claim the $175,000 first prize while Gypsy Wyong is a firming $10 elect.

And based on those prices, Britton believes that Gypsy Wyong is the better play.

"Even though she hasn't won for three starts, she doesn't run too many bad races and has run in this sort of class quite often,” Britton said.

"She's snuck under the radar really. Every time she comes back to a group 1 over 715, it's where she wants to be."

Gypsy Wyong is a four-time group 1 winner over the ‘half-mile' and has started no shorter than $6.20 in each.

The Sandown Cup headlines a group 1 triple header at Sandown Park on Thursday night with the Harrison-Dawson and Sapphire Crown to be run over 515m.