Trained by leading Pearcedale mentor Jason Thompson, Next Top Model began well to lead Darren McDonald's Reign Over Me into the home straight the first time.

Reign Over Me soon switched to the rails to take the lead as the pair broke away from the pack.

In an epic finish to Australia's richest race for stayers, Next Top Model and Reign Over Me raced neck and neck down the home straight, with Next Top Model hitting the line first in course record time to defeat Reign Over Me by a head.

It was just reward for the connections of the rising three year old, who was contesting her 11th group race final, having been placed in six of them leading into Thursday night's race. Next Top Model is the second Sandown Cup winner for the Thompson kennel, which previously scored with Proven Lethal in 2004.

The win took Next Top Model's career record to 19 wins from 41 starts and the $100,000 winner's cheque took her prizemoney beyond $200,000.

Her winning time of 41.96 seconds eclipsed Mantra Lad's 2009 race record of 42.00 seconds.