By Rob Abrey
The Essex Vase has finished with Bubbly Torpedo deservedly taking the spoils. Those who read this article on a regular basis would have been well informed about Bubbly Torpedo from Steve Fluin, head of the Bubbly syndicate.
Here we concentrate on tonight’s maiden stayers competition over 575 metres.
Cloud One trained by Peterborough’s David Pruhs is an interesting entry in heat one at 8.50pm. I spoke to spoke to David about Cloud One back in September before his first ever race. He won a maiden competition over 400 metres in what could only be described as a fantastic run coming from off the pace.
Now attempting his six bend debut tonight David Pruhs on Cloud One said: “I don’t know if he stays. We will find out Friday. It’s a bit of an experiment. We are hopeful of him staying and wouldn’t have entered him otherwise.
“He doesn’t appear keen on being in trap one but I don’t really want to seed him middle and see him drawn further out. He is still learning and still very inexperienced and has only had eight races so far.
“He had a trial at Peterborough on the 17th November and beat a good dog by thirteen lengths. I didn’t think he would win by any more than five lengths.
“If it doesn’t work out over six bend will race him over stiffer four bend trips.”
Think Big trained by local handler Phil Simmonds not only makes his open race debut tonight he also makes his six bend debut. The son of Coolavanny Bert and Ambience has had 64 races all around Romford and all over 400 metres in graded company. The April ’14 does appear to need a longer trip but can he stay 575 metres? Trainer Phil Simmonds has the answers: “I don’t think he will. His mother and sire did not stay six bends but you never know.
I’m not hopeful but he is a nice pup. The switch to the 575 traps might do him well. He runs the track well and has early so you never know. He looks like more of a 480 metres dog than a 575 metre dog.”
Ballymac Zara in the 10.26pm over 400 metres has been knocking on the door and surely is close to opening her Romford account with a win. Trained by David Pruhs the April ’14 whelp had run against Evanta Fantasy lat time up and was only beaten by 3 ½ lengths.
David Pruhs on Ballymac Zara said: “She ran extremely well. It probably would have been a lot closer had she been drawn inside Evanta Fantasy rather than on her outside.
“It has been a bit stop start with her and she has had bit and pieces. She has just come back from a cough. She needs a bit of a run where we can get a few runs in her.
“For tonight we are more hopeful than confident.”
