Rambo Packs Too Many Guns In Sandown Cup

IT was only three weeks ago that trainer Mark Delbridge admitted to not being sold as to whether Zipping Rambo was a genuine stayer.

IT was only three weeks ago that trainer Mark Delbridge admitted to not being sold as to whether Zipping Rambo was a genuine stayer.

But it's now a theory that has been well and truly debunked after the son of Mister Twister stormed away for victory in the Group 1 RSN Sandown Cup Final (715m) on Thursday night.

Heavily supported in betting, Zipping Rambo ran 41.72 to defeat a fast finishing Stanley Road by 1 ¾ lengths with early leader Tyler Durden third another half-length away.

But the event wasn't without its share of misfortune with race favourite Zack Monelli going amiss in the run, breaking a hock in a tragic side note to the Group 1 staying feature.

For trainer Mark Delbridge, Zipping Rambo's Sandown Cup rampage was his second Group 1 victory, his first courtesy of Dyna Dean in the Group 1 Rookie Rebel (600m) at The Meadows in 2018.

In the past 18 months Delbridge has been bursting to win a Group 1 title with his grand chaser Christo Bale, contesting no less than six finals on the grand stage.

But as the unpredictability of racing would have it, Zipping Rambo has handed Delbridge his second Group 1 victory, and at his very first attempt at Group race level.

Last August, Gary Black, who owned Delbridge's property at Balliang before selling it on 25 years ago, purchased Zipping Rambo from the Hallinan family for $25,000.

And it's a leap of faith that's now paid major dividends with Thursday night's $175,000 winner's cheque taking Zipping Rambo's earnings past $225,000 for Black, boasting 15 wins from 30 career starts.

“Gary has been a very big supporter of our kennels so to see him win a race like this means a lot to us,” Lisa Delbridge, wife of trainer Mark, said.

“Gary puts plenty of money back into the sport so to win this race for him is an honour for myself and Mark. Gary's played a big part in our lives for the best part of 25 years now. We really couldn't be happier or prouder.”

It was in late March, Delbridge elevated Zipping Rambo to middle distance racing, making an immediate impression with a sizzling 34.16 romp over the 600 metres at The Meadows.

Two runs later the powerhouse chaser recorded 33.66 at Sandown Park over the 595 metres, a time just a length outside Dyna Double One's track record.

And given the sheer brilliance of these middle distance successes it had Delbridge questioning whether he could sustain it over the longer journeys.

The Sandown Cup hero will now revert back to the 595 metre distance for next week's Speed Star series at Sandown Park where he goes into the race as the number one seed courtesy of his 33.66 romp in April.







 

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