Group 1 Hume Cup winner Accredited stamped himself as the greyhound to beat in next week’s Sportsbet Melbourne Cup, scorching around Sandown Park last night to qualify fastest with another brilliant all-the-way performance.
Stopping the clock at 29.07 over the 515 metres – after a slick 5.01 early split, Accredited was simply uncatchable.
“When he punched through and found the front, his 600-metre form showed he wasn’t going to get run down,” trainer Ned McDonald said post-race.
It’s been a whirlwind few weeks for the 25-year-old, who only claimed his first Group race a fortnight ago and now finds himself preparing for one of the sport’s biggest prizes.
“These are the races we want to be in, and this is what we do it for,” he said.
Accredited emerged from what was arguably the deepest heat of the night, defeating Group winners including Tribeca, Tim Zoo and Mepunga Tully.
The son of the late Fernando Bale will jump from box three in the final – the same draw he used to win his 600-metre Group 1 at The Meadows just two weeks ago.
Accredited wins a heat of the Sportsbet Melbourne Cup from box one.
Canya Mayhem was the second-fastest qualifier, running 5.02, 29.14 after using box one to perfection.
Canya Mayhem wins a heat of the Sportsbet Melbourne Cup from box one.
Dashing Slay secured her place as the third-fastest qualifier, showing elite acceleration to loop the field and score impressively.
The heat was marred by the injury to early leader Wyong Dallas, who went amiss with a suspected hock fracture. Team Dailly representative Korie Heinrich confirmed post-race that the sprinter is “in good spirits and all bandaged up,” and will undergo further veterinary assessment.
In the opening heat, Queensland star Daysea’s Rory produced a booming finish to pick off Ross The Boss and Sharapova Star, capping an outstanding year for trainer Tom Tzouvelis. He qualified fourth-fastest in 29.25 (5.07 early).
Daysea’s Rory wins the opening heat of the Sportsbet Melbourne Cup.
The shocks kept coming when Valenzuela, trained by Jeff Britton, ran down short-priced favourite Zipper On Time, stopping the clock in 29.26.
Valenzuela wins a heat of the Sportsbet Melbourne Cup from box three.
Paw Zuri (Mark Delbridge) held off Phoenix contender Eriza Sparkles in the final heat after a strong Laurels placing last start.
Promising youngster Intrepidus then made his way into his first Group 1 final, leading throughout in his heat after just 15 career starts.
Spritely Sian wins the last heat of the Sportsbet Melbourne Cup.
