Coolavanny Aunty landed her third Category One final when beating defending champ and kennelmate Coolavanny Bani in Thursday’s ARC Grand Prix Final.
The Angela Harrison trained Lowther and Essex Vase winner went to trap two as a 4-9f but would be made to work for her victory when kennelmate and defending champ Coolavanny Bani took up the running . . .
Assistant trainer Jimmy Wright said: “To be honest, when Bani led I was cheering her on, not because I wanted her to win over Aunty, but she will only have one more race and it would have been a great end to her career.
“But Aunty is exceptional; I think she would have broken the track record if Bani hadn’t pushed her off around the first two bend. Sunderland is a tough track to pass when top class dogs are competing, but Aunty got there in the end. That’s the class of her. She is a fabulous bitch and don’t forget the two Cat One races that she finished second in (the Puppy Classic/George Ing Leger), though I am not sure that she ever really took to Yarmouth.
“Both of them will run in the Trainers Championship (Judgement Night) next weekend. Bani will then be retired and Aunty will have a well earned rest. She has done a lot of traveling and would appreciate a break. We haven’t decided about the Derby yet, she loves Towcester but it is a big ask against the real quality dogs in the later stages of the competition. At this stage I would think it is unlikely she will take part. But I’ll speak to the syndicate and we’ll decide.”
Special Aunty – three Cat Ones
