Patrick Janssens was extolling the consistent qualities as much as the speed of Druids Say Go before the start of the Golden Sprint. She duly displayed both with her seventh win (and two seconds) from nine races at Romford in the fastest time of the night.
On the same night, and over an additional 447m, Ballymac Taylor put her name firmly at the top of the TV Trophy with a track record breaking run at Oxford. Space Jet’s record had stood at 53.04 (N), while Taylor – from last to first – clocked 52.90 (-30).
Also on the near horizon is the Ladbrokes (Monmore) Puppy Derby (first Saturday March 16). The stand-out trialstake win this week went to John Flaherty’s British bred youngster Greenwell Ovett. Newcastle regulars will recall the July pup’s stunning debut in the Northern Puppy Derby – a fastest-of-round, 28.71. He was withdrawn off colour from the semis and beaten last week at Monmore. But clearly a quick learner, he led from box to beam in 28.37.
Monmore D2 regular Summer Swirl has been enjoying her Sunday afternoon trips to Wales. But it would have taken a supreme optimist to imagine the veteran setting a new 260m track record of 15.90.
There were a number of decent performances at Hove at the weekend including two for the Wallis pair Quarteira and Ballymac John. But for sheer class, King Memphis continues to look the real deal. His winning time of 30.12 (-20) was some way off his Olympic best of 29.87 but for a first race of the year, it was hugely impressive.
Poor Maxine Locke had a terrible night at Romford on Friday with all her Golden Sprint runners eliminated including one broken hock. But there was something a little brighter on Saturday when Droopys Reserve clocked the fastest time this year for Central Park’s 491 trip. Droopys Clue’s clock is 28.83.
Last week Tory Bellatrix set a new track record for Central Park’s shorter six bend trip. To prove it was no fluke she produced a 42.82 run for Towcester’s 712m on Sunday. It was just three quarters of a length outside Havana Lover’s TR. Litter brother Bet Shop Boy landed a 500m open on the same card.
Doncaster continues with their competitive Saturday night opens. Pick of the crop from Saturday was Phil Barlow’s Velvet Violet. The litter sister to Velvet Hurricane is emerging from her brother’s shadow and following a decent run behind Omuircheartaigh last week, she kicked on to take the fastest 483m open in 29.82 (-40).
With so much attention given to opens and weekends, it is a shame when graded nuggets go barely noticed. Nottingham’s A1 on Monday was a cracker and featured a strong of hounds with good open class form. Bitumen is quickest over the 480 course this year, Sabar Kian, has the best 500m run. This one went to Bitumen for a ninth win in his last 11 races. Sambar Kian, who inflicted one of those defeats was the 13/8 beaten favourite. A mention too for the veteran Tickity Robyn with a 29.67 (+50) run in A2 earlier in the week.
There was virtually an identical situation at Yarmouth on Wednesday. Could the virtually ungradeable Alberts Legacy bounce back after an A1 defeat by Smores a week earlier? The bookies thought so – 13/8. But Irene Barnard’s Inflation, who was also in the previous race, had other ideas and made it three wins from his last four in a worthy 27.78.
Probably the best of the lot though was at Perry Barr where Darley Diglake was out to avenge the loss of his title to Swift Prank by a short head last time out. He did it – and in some style. A career best 28.29 – some run for a graded race. That’s five wins and that short head defeat in his last six outings for Robert Hall’s runner.
Barr trainer John Lambe was represented by Hurry Up Jordan at Sheffield on Sunday and the 38.8kg black duly landed the quickest heat of the Queen Mother Cup. Having continually missed out week after week, Romeo To Victory is long overdue a mention having completed a four-timer over the Owlerton sprint.
Puppies impressively winning opens will always hold a strong suit in qualifying for this feature and the Patrick Janssens trained youngster Not So Slow ticked both boxes with a 24.39 six length win on a sodden track rated -90 was as good as any. One for the notebook. A mention too though for the impressive A1 winner Naney Jezabelle who clocked 23.62 (N).
Ricky Holloway’s July pup Miss Syd missed out on Performances of the Week acknowledgement during the Golden Jacket despite clocking the fastest 380 of the year. She was half a length slower on Sunday but the £6,600 purchase at the Premier Greyhound Sales auction looks a bargain. (Good Streak, virtually unbeatable at Harlow was another great purchase at £3,600)
We will stay with the puppy theme with Ballymac Dom as the Kinsley selection. The 27.91 winner late last year has gone off the boil a bit but was good enough to see off A4 company.
With form that includes a 28.63 500m run at Sheffield and a 29.46 (500) at Hove, Untold Zloty’s has always had ability. Since the unfortunate setback of an “awkward” at Romford, Carol Weatherall has set about rebuilding his career and the near 39 kilo black took a significant step forward with the fastest 476 at Swindon this year in a Thursday evening open.
No opens at Harlow and with the top performers seeking riches elsewhere, the feature race of the week was an A2 won in 26.48 by Essjay Annie; her third win in her last four races.
A similar story at Newcastle where the quickest run went to A3 grader Syds Smurph who was 10/1 when clocking 28.72 on her UK debut.
The quickest run at neighbours Sunderland was Westside Bocko’s 27.25 (+10) in an A3 on Sunday. But earlier in the week, 21 month old Firmino Boy extended his record to six wins from 10 outings and was only half a length slower.
Finally, Pelaw Grange where Mucky Buick, Blastoff Cassius and Cloverfield Lass – 2nd, 3rd and 4th behind last week’s top performer Tromora Supreme – took advantage of her absence by finishing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in this week’s top heat.
