By MICHAEL FLOYD
RALPHY Cinel announced himself among the country’s elite middle-distance chasers when registering the fastest heat win in the heats of the $36,000 Group 3 Sir John Dillon Memorial at Sandown Park tonight.
The lightly raced son of High Earner began well from box 2 and drove through strongly on the rail to take the early lead. From there he was never in any danger, powering to the line six-and-a-half lengths clear of Group 1 Bold Trease finalist Blinker’s On in a slick 33.94.
“It’s awesome he broke 34 seconds,” said his ecstatic trainer Joe Borg.
“He’s flying at the moment but we just haven’t had much luck in his recent races.
“He needs to jump to the front to show his best, and drawing close to the rail certainly helped him tonight because that’s where he really needs to be to show his best.”
Importantly for Borg, he believes there is further improvement to come.
“He ran 34.10 a little while ago and he’s improved a bit since then. His main goal is the Sale Cup (over 650m, heats on 21 December) – I reckon he’ll get the extra distance and that’s where we’ll see the best of him.”
The win was Ralphy Cinel’s 13th from 34 career starts and his fourth from seven starts of this track and distance.
Out to deny Borg the Group-3 title is perennial feature finalist Darren McDonald, who puts the polish on the night’s opening-heat winner, Awesome Project.
Having been placed in 13 of 14 starts over 515m, Awesome Project had no issues stepping up to the 595m, leading all of the way in 34.23.
Remarkably, Thursday night’s final was Awesome Project fifth black type final at Sandown Park in 2014, having already won the Group 2 Harrison-Dawson and Listed Cup Night Sprint, while also reaching the finals of the TAB Melbourne Cup and Shootout. Awesome Project’s hopes of adding a third Sandown feature win improved considerably after drawing box 1 for the final.
Lamia Bale claimed the final heat of the night, saluting in 34.10. Lamia Bale took full advantage of his inside draw, railing strongly through the first turn and opening up a race-winning break over the gallant Skyfire.
The $36,000 Group 3 Sir John Dillon Memorial will be run this Thursday night at Sandown Park.
