Super stayer Valpolicella set to join millionaires club in Sandown Cup

Super stayer Valpolicella can become just the fourth female greyhound to add her name to the million-dollar earners club in the Sandown Cup on Friday.

Valpolicella with trainer Tony Zammit at Sandown Park. Payback winning at Sandown Park. Photo: Jason Mckeown.

Star stayer Valpolicella is aiming to become just the second bona fide stayer to add her name to the million-dollar earners club in Friday night’s Group 1 Sandown Cup at Sandown Park.

A win or second placing for the daughter of Shima Shine-Saldana will see Valpolicella become just the 15th greyhound to earn $1 million or more.

“It’s a pretty elite club and she’ll be just the fourth bitch to do it if she can get the job done on Friday,” Valpolicella’s owner, Sydney businessman Sandro Bechini said.

“The only other bitches that have done it are Wow She’s Fast, She’s A Pearl and Fanta Bale and then when you look at the stayers on the list it’s Fanta Bale and Tornado Tears.

“Fanta Bale was a freak. She won Group 1s over 500, 600 and 700m so the only out and out stayer on the list so far is Tornado Tears.

“Pretty good company.”

Valpolicella is the favourite for the $175,000-to-the-winner staying contest over the 715m trip.

The Tony Zammit-trained chaser has drawn the inside box and Bechini says, “She couldn’t be boxed any better”.

🤯What a win from, Valpolicella,🍷 in taking out a heat of the G1 Sandown Cup over 715m! 🥵

⏱️41.98
🟦 Box 4️⃣
Trainer🐾 - Tony Zammit
Owner🐶 - Sandro Bechini
🧬 Shima Shine x Saldana

🎥@WatchDogRacingpic.twitter.com/ErNenEhqqR

— Dimity Maher (@DimityMaher) May 16, 2024

“In her last seven starts off the red she’s led or been second early five times,” he said.

“This race is the race Tony (Zammit) really wants to win. The Sandown Cup has a lot of prestige attached to it.

“Most of Australia’s great stayers are on the honour roll.

“All things being equal She’s going to take some beating.”

Bechini recently told the Greyhound Recorder that he believes the best is still yet to come from Valpolicella who only just turned three two weeks ago.

Just last Saturday night the Sydneysider was again in awe of his prized speedster when she overcame adversity to make the final when it looked as though she could be heading for a surprising heat exit.

“She’s just something else,” he said “I still can’t believe she got up in the heat but I guess that’s what sets the really good ones apart.

“The good ones find a way.

“If you measure desire, I’m sure she has it in bucket loads.

“Her run home in the heat was 10.99 and then next best of those in the final was Ritza Piper at 11.15. That tells you a bit about her desire.”

Originally published as Super stayer Valpolicella set to join millionaires club in Sandown Cup