On Friday night New Destiny clocked 34.75 for Romford’s 575m. It was the second fastest time of the year behind her own track record. She actually has three of the top four times. Interestingly, it was her 37th race for the MWD Partnership and she has won 18 of them, which is exceptional. However, she started favourite in 30 of the 37 and has only started bigger than 2/1 twice. So the bookies should really be paying her kennel bills.
It was a case of simply turning the black typeface to gold for King Memphis at Central Park. Not only did the defending POW win again in the first round of the PGR Kent Derby, he equalled last week’s track record. So that was his 23rd career win from 35 outings for a strike rate of 65.7%, the majority in Cat One company.
Druids Say Go didn’t break the Perry Barr track record but was equally impressive when landing the opening round of the Oaks in 27.89 for the 480 metres. That makes her the second fastest bitch ever over course and distance behind former kennelmate and 2022 Oaks winner Slick Sakina (27.85). That is five in a row and 10 from her last 11 races for a bitch who had cramped in her only other visit to the track a year ago and clocked 29.01.
Team Janssens were also busy at Towcester on Sunday where Romeo Command (1/8f) went to traps in the heats of a Cat 2 British bred competition and romped up in 28.82. His record over course and distance is: 23 races, 16 wins, 6 seconds, and a sixth. Oh – and one of those seconds was in a Derby Final. A mention too for Tommys Lotto with a 42.82 run over the 712m trip.
The fourth Cat One event to get underway at the weekend was the Bresbet Steel City Cup where Wicky Ned found two spots on his Gymcrack winning time to clock 28.49, more than four lengths quicker than the next quickest winner Union Rebel (28.82). Yet Ned’s sectional was his fastest by a length (4.05/4.13) suggesting there is more to come in terms of fitness as well as six months natural development. If things go to the Fenwick plan, the 36 kilo brindle could have three Cat One titles under his belt by race 13.
Trainer ‘Wor Jimmy’ and owner Neil McGregor were equally busy at home track Newcastle. Last week we suggested that when a 20 month old pup clocks the fastest time of the week, they are pretty much a penalty kick to be selected. Although technically a month older, Skeard Josie stepped up on her 28.64 of a week ago and saw off a decent open race puppy field in a second consecutive fastest 480 of the week, 28.50.
More of a celebration than a selection issue at Hove. It is the new 500m track record holder Candolim Monsoon, a dog whose racing career seemed over after suffering serious injury which kept him off the track for seven months. However the brilliant rehabilitation program from the Blond Knight resulted in a 28.69 (+40) run from the veteran 2023 Sussex Cup winner. Top training!
The tightest call of the week was at Yarmouth where two A1 winners each recorded 27.66. With a slightly inferior recent record, the first runner-up is Irene Barnard’s Chelms Bob. But on slightly slower going and winning for the fourth time in his last five races is the Craig Morris trained Druids All Go. Still a bit in the shadow of your little sister though aren’t you mate!
Mike Burton’s Droopys Superstr might be considered a bit unlucky not to be the Swindon selection. Having twice ran second to Eze, he finally got his nose in front to win a Thursday night 470m open in 28.11. But on balance, we’ve got to go with Angie Kibble’s six bend winner Ballymac Loca. Her 41.28 on the night was 15 spots outside her 682m track record, with a going allowance which equates exactly to the going difference between the two runs.
Kinsley’s feature race of the week took place on Friday and featured all the usual suspects: Da Man Joey, Canal View Ten, and last week’s defending champ, Breakthebiscuit. But in full boxing mode, we announce, following a three quarter length A2 win in 27.67 for the 462 metres, the new and undisputed lightweight (30 kilos) champion. . . . . .Kilara Thyestes. (Breakthebiscuit has a re-match written into his contract.)
On more than one occasion recently, we’ve selected a Nottingham grader above the Monday night open winners. This week we have little choice after the meeting was abandoned after four races. But take nothing away from Paula Timmins’ consistent midweek winner Headford Chief who saw off a second consecutive A2 in 30.02.
It was a good week for the for Seamus Leahy’s ‘Headford’ prefix with Headford Dame producing the outstanding performance of the week at Harlow. The black dog (!) was contesting his 11th race at The Pinnacle, but just his second over the standard distance. Win number seven was in the fastest time of the week, 26.45 (-20).
At Sunderland, Chasing Colbert celebrated reaching pensionable age with just his second win in his last 17 races. Yvonne Bell’s brindle was in A1 company before being allocated the ‘scratch’ jacket in a series of handicaps. The locals knew (11/10) value when they saw it and Colbert had stretched the lead to just over six lengths when breaking the beam in 27.15, a time equalled by Hopes Sparkie on Sunday.
Cork racegoers may remember Makemeawinner as runner-up in a novice sprint stake earlier in the year. But to Oxford racegoers, the 30 kilo white and blue is Antigua Bubble who was readily available at 8/1 when beating 1/5f Sir Oreo in a four-runner 450 metre open on Saturday lunchtime. His 26.88 (-10) was the week’s quickest run.
Last week a 28.44 run was enough to secure the Monmore selection for Arthur Cornflake. Similarly there were a string of 28.40s runs in the last seven days. But it took a 28.40 ‘on the nose’ to ensure that Rachel You Go is our POW. And no one could surely begrudge her the open race victory following a losing streak of 18 races tracing back to May.
This week’s Doncaster times were never going to match last week’s when the track was on fire. The week’s feature meeting on Saturday featured decent runs over various distances with none really standing out. There was a 29.72 (-20) in a three runner A1 for Westway Sailor, a 41.80 for Bogger Cash over six bends. But we’ve gone for home bred Keefill Halo, one of the less celebrated members of a fine litter. The ex-Sheffield A4 bitch clocked 27.53 (-20) for the 450 metres; her fourth win in her last five races.
Tracker Man clocked the fastest standard distance time at Valley this week, 28.10 and with Cassidy down the field, it would be worthy of selection. Instead we are going for stayers Hopes Queen following a 40.16 run for the 645m. Not only did Leigh Williams little ‘un (23kg) find 122 spots on her winning time of a week ago, only track record holder Dubai Kid (40.03) has gone quicker.
Last week’s Pelaw POW Chippy Chase was turned over by 26.09 winner Cloncunny Black on Sunday. However, his 26.09 winning time was bettered by the night’s other A2 winner, Dairyhill Suzi. That is three wins and a second in her last four outings.
There were a couple of notable performances at Crayford on Sunday. Miss Syd, who boasts a 22.91 for the 380m and a 33.26 for 540 produced her quickest run to date for 714, 45.20. However we have sided with ‘the Queen of Crayford’ Laughil Jess following the fastest 540 of the week, 33.57 and thus completing a five-timer. So how about these for stats? To date Dave Lee’s white and black has raced over the same course and distance on 28 occasions of which she was won 24. PB: 33.43.
