Ibicenco was in his element at Sandown on Saturday over 3200 metres (2 miles), winning the Sportingbet Sandown Cup in what was a genuine staying test.

Surely the penny must have dropped by now, our racing authorities have got to look at Sandown more objectively as the best track in Australia as a staying test.

That was again in evidence on Saturday with the win of Ibicenco the time might have been a bit out on what they ran in the Melbourne Cup but who cares about that, the overall spectacle, plus the terrain, is brilliant.

Reuben Percival drew the outside; it didn’t take Vlad Duric long to set him alight, he led around the first turn and remained there well into the straight until he was seriously challenged.

Ibicenco who had settled well back in the field early, began to take closer order in the middle stages of the race, his rider, Glen Boss, didn’t want to lose sight of the leader.

The winner, formerly trained by Luca Cumani, will remain here under the care of Peter Moody, with the Sydney Cup at Easter high on the intended agenda.

Punters took the lead that Ibicenco was running into form, he opened up at $3.50, drifted slightly thereafter, coming back to start at his opening quote.

 Ibicenco winning the Sportingbet Sandown Cup