The favourites were beaten in all three semi finals of the Coral Champion Stakes at Romford on Friday with only one making it through to the final. All nine qualifiers have therefore gone in favour of the bookies.
The first semi final was a messy affair where John Mullins’ Badabing rocketed up on the inside of fast breaking Millroad Henry (T3) and escaped the worst of the trouble that engulfed his kennelmate Ascot Woodie (T5). The leading pair appeared to have the race between with with Woodie (7-4f) at least 10 lengths adrift of the leader and eight lengths off a qualifying place at the second bend. But Frank Gray’s Henry went down a proverbial hole in the last 50 metres and was short headed on the line for second place. It is perhaps significant that Badabing’s winning time – 36.12 (-20) – was actually slower than his calculated clock when he was beaten in the first round.
Winner BADABING (t1) leads at the fifth bend from Millroad Henry (t3 rails). Ascot Woodie (t5, top left) still with plenty to do before grabbing second on the line to give John Mullins a 1-2 in the first Champion Stakes semi. Photo: Steve Nash
The second semi concentrated on the inside trio of boxes – who would lead – probably Newlawn Peter -(T1) and would Starring Storm (T2) and 5-2f Roswell Romanov cramp each other’s style?
It kind of worked that way. After a slow break Newlawn Peter (4-1) soon took up the running pursued by the top two in the betting. The race really unfolded off the second bend where Starring Storm (3-1) swung right across the track using the favourite as leverage to straighten up. He pursued the leader and went past like a Mercedes overtaking a Sauber at the fifth bend. The winner’s time was a fastest of night, 35.57.
Prior to the third decider, the question on most punters lips was – will we see the old Fivestar Clipper (T6) this week and will he clear Swabys Millward (T5) at the bend?
They knew their fate soon enough when Swabys Millward bombed away as Clipper (7-4f) went up with the traps. Paul Young’s 6-1 chance cleared the 222m sectional with just over two lengths to spare over the near veteran Bog Brae (9-2). The result appeared already settled when there was further trouble behind at the third bend. Bog Brae closed on the leader going into the last bend but his challenge arrived as they swung for home his inertia was lost. Millward held on by just over a length in 35.61. Ribble Aon ran a fine race after being squeezed out early and narrowly failed to make the final.
SWABYS MILLWARD leads at the fifth bend from Bog Brae (t2) in the third Champion Stakes semi, where Fivestar Clipper (t6) failed to recover from a poor start. Photo: Steve Nash
