Seattle Sam, who began his UK racing career being beaten in A7 at Henlow, justified his 6-4 favouritism with a hard won victory in the Alan Speechley Fengate Collar Final at Peterborough.
Jason Bloomfield’s black dog disputed the early lead with Signature Dancer but skipped clear at the first bend. He then faced a determined late run from Kooga Klass who came from last place, but found herself half a black length short after the 435 metres.
Sam broke the beam in 26.28 on going rated .20 slow. The fastest time of the competition was Glencroft Tiger’s 26.17 (N).
Sam began his career at Derry but was bought by Con Conlon and Bob Batten after leading and being beaten in a A5 at Shelbourne Park where he clocked 28.97.
Bloomfield said: “I don’t think he was an expensive dog. Con is moving kennels and was originally going to join him, though I think he will now be staying with us.
“Sam started off graded with us, went to Romford where he won heats and final of a maiden competition, was just beaten at Harlow before going on to Peterborough. He is a nice little dog who has excelled himself.
“He will have a couple of weeks off and then we will look at our options. Nottingham (National Sprint) is a possibility though he isn’t really a sprinter. He is A5 at Henlow, but because he doesn’t see out the trip, is beatable in A4.
“Peterborough is just about perfect for him though there aren’t many competitions around at that distance. We’ll may well go back to Romford.”
The two supporting finals provided the tightest of finishes.
There was consolation for Klass’s trainer Dave Pruhs when kennelmate Lemon Jetson landed the £500 S&D Sprint Final by a short head from Headford Domino. The winner clocked 15.32 (-10).
The Stayers Final saw a British Bred 1-2 with Raise The Stakes beating Twit Twoo by a neck in 38.39 (-20) for the 620 metres.
With the first round of the Ladbrokes Trafalgar Cup just a week away, pups dominated the Monmore card.
Most impressive on the night was Antigua Breeze (Zero Ten-Santo Cruz, Mar 18) with a 28.05 run on going rated at -10. It was a fifth win in seven races for the John Marriott bred youngster.
However, there was also a hugely impressive win for Deanridge Baloo (Definite Opinion-Ballymac Razl, May 18) with a 28.08 run on similar going for Alison Kelly-Pilgrim. The 37 kilo blue was contesting only his second ever race.
The slightly older Desperado Rocco (Vimmerby-Slaneyside Comet, Feb 18) is another likely to return next week courtesy of a 28.18 (-10) run.
Of the 10 fastest times over Swindon’s new 476m course, eight were recorded by bitches. Kevin Hutton’s Bull Run Byte moved into sixth place on that table with a 28.08 run on Saturday night.
She caught the returning Droopys Beyonce who faded after leading and was beaten by a length. (Cadburys Hero is quickest of all with a 27.87.)
Jet Stream Ivy won the other open in 28.41.
Local owner Paul Gebhard picked seven of the 13 winners at Perry Barr on Saturday with returns of 4-7, 4-6, 10-11, 10-11, 11-8, 11-4 and 7-2.
The pick of the St.Leger undercard winners was arguably Gerry Ballentine’s Drahbeg Dash (Over Limit-Swift Teqilla, Jul 17) whose 39.93 for the 660 metres was the fastest time over course and distance in two years. (Newinn This Way’s track record is 39.55).
It was Dash’s first race over six bends. Back in September he was running in D3 sprints, clocked a career best 28.55 for the 480 metres in October and romped up by nearly nine lengths after “EP,W,Ld3,FnWll” on Saturday.
