Trio Jump Into Topgun Consideration
Cosmic Rumble staked his claim for a Group 1 Sky Channel Topgun berth with an emphatic win in the $14,500 Bill Collins Memorial at Sandown Park tonight.
Now in the care of leading Devon Meadows trainer Darren McDonald, the former New South Wales chaser was given plenty of room from box 2 and the son of Spiral Nikita took full advantage, driving underneath Queenslander Queen Lauryn ($10) to take the early lead.
Cosmic Rumble ($4.30) opened up a three length lead down the back straight and looked to have the race at his mercy before Queen Lauryn took off in pursuit.
The dual Group 1 winner was having her first race start in almost a month and loomed up to threaten on the home turn, however Cosmic Rumble proved far too good in the run to line to win by three lengths in a slick 29.58. The win was the fastest at the Lightwood Road venue in over six months.
Consistent open class greyhound Velocette ($4) finished strongly a further 7.75 lengths away in third. All three greyhounds will come under close scrutiny for selection in the final Topgun field.
The field for the $100,000 to the winner Sky Channel Topgun will be announced at the Meadows on Saturday 10 October, with the race to be run on Cox Plate day, Saturday 24 October.