Box Draw Throws Sandown Cup Wide Open

TRUE Detective has raced into Sandown Cup favouritism with a brilliant front running heat victory at Sandown Park on Thursday night.

Installed a slender $3.20 favourite by TAB, the son of Black Magic Opal has drawn box seven in his quest for a third group 1 title after running his rivals ragged in his heat romp on Thursday night, recording a slick 41.88.

Trained by Jeff Britton, True Detective scored by just under five-lengths over a gallant Ella Enchanted, the daughter of Don't Knocka Him qualifying for her second Sandown Cup decider after going down narrowly in last year's finale behind Rajasthan.

The opening heat on Thursday night went the way of the Andrea Dailly-trained Rockstar Beav in a best of night 41.69, getting the better of staying novice He Shall Power late in proceedings by 1 ½ lengths.

Rockstar Beav has drawn the coveted rails alley for next week's $50,000 to-the-winner final which has seen the son of Collision installed a rock solid $3.50 second elect in early betting.

The third heat saw Blazing Cartier storm into a fourth group 1 final with a dashing 41.93 win.

Trained by Rob Britton, who is eyeing a third Sandown Cup title in the past four years, Blazing Cartier began with gusto before powering away for a five-length win over Just Terms, the Group 1 Zoom Top winner progressing through to yet another big race final for Anthony Azzopardi.

The fourth and final heat was meant to be a three-way battle between previous cup winners Tornado Tears and Rajasthan and new kid on the block Submission.

But things didn't go to script for punters anyway, with Bronski Beat scoring by a 10-length margin in 42.07 for trainer Brendan Pursell.

With the more fancied chances mixing in behind, it was left to the son of Fernando Bale to storm away with the prize, with Zipping Clifford just edging out Tornado Tears for second spot, denying the champion stayer a third straight Sandown Cup berth.