By Rob Abrey
It’s Friday and that means one thing – open racing at Romford. All thirteen races around the Essex track are open races and as usual there are maidens with some new faces on show and standard affairs involving the usual suspects. As ever yours truly has found the interesting entries and found out more.
Any student of the graded races at Romford will have been waiting for the day Swift Mask steps up in trip. Trained by Maxine Locke the son of Paradise Madison and Swift Verse has run in fifteen graded races over the four bend trip winning four times.
His most recent victory came in top graded company where he came from behind to claim the spoils. The ‘December ’14 whelp seems desperate for the longer trip but can he stay?
Owner Doug Coats said: “He might be one to follow if he stays. We haven’t tested him over the six bend trip but gave him a sprint trial on Tuesday so he could get used to the 575 metres traps. When we bought him, is breeder Ian Greaves said he would be better suited over the six bend trip where he thought he would be a stayer. We will find out on Friday if he can stay or not but with his breeding and strong running to the pick up we think he can and I’ve been looking forward to finding out for ages as we have been patient with him.”
Yarmouth trainer Kevin Boon knows a stayer when he sees one so when he steps one of his greyhounds up in trip it’s worth taking notice. Time Test in the 575 maiden at 9.06pm has had seventeen races but the furthest the son of Godsend and Joker Two has run is over the 515 metres trip at Hove for a trial.
The June ’14 whelp has been running over 460 and 480 metres but can he handle the extended trip tonight? Trainer Kevin Boon said: “I’m not sure if he stays. He is a dog I really can’t quite put my finger on. He has won at Wimbledon and Doncaster and when watching him to the pick ups he appears to stay on really well.
“I made my mind up to try him for a maiden stayers race after his race at Henlow last Sunday. I was quite impressed with him after the finishing line where he went past Toolmaker Rambo.
“He has run around Romford before over 400 metres and did quite well considering he is not a 400 metres dog. If you don’t try you don’t know and it doesn’t harm the dog to find out”.
No Friday night card is complete without Fivestar Clipper and the Derek Knight trained August ’12 whelp is back after almost two months out with injury. The ever popular greyhound makes his return to his happy hunting ground at 10.40pm tonight after three warm up trials at his home track Hove. Trainer Derek Knight on Fivestar Clipper said: “He had a bit of a problem with a back muscle which we have had treated.
“He was not coming out of the traps and his form had completely gone so we got him checked out and found he had an issue with a back muscle.
“He is not getting any younger and this is a tough race, not the sort of race you want after two almost two months but he is fine in himself and he is not difficult to get fit. He did one of his best times around Hove in a trial recently which shows he is ready.
“He is a great dog and the main thing tonight will be getting him round safe and sound.”
FIVESTAR CLIPPER Photo: Steve Nash
