The week belongs to owner Kevin Boothby and trainer Diane Henry following a fantastic Saturday treble that included two Cat Ones and a Cat Three. There is a decent POW case to be made for Savana Ruinart’s win in the Gold Collar, in the fastest time over the 540m course this year. But the selection was always going to be Savana Volcano with the third Cat One of her career at four and a half years old. It was the fastest run since Slippy Maska’s identical clocking four and a half years ago. Absolutely magnificent and the epitome of what this feature is all about.
Later in the day, Volcano’s great rival Space Jet made a winning return at Hove with a narrow win over the 740m course. Nicely on target for the Ballyregan/Curtis Memorial, she is some way off her best though and the selection is a tough call between 29.51 (500) winner Chasing Tommytee and 30.18 (500) winner Global Vision. We give it to the latter, simply on the basis of the overall quality of the opposition. (Probably, just, maybe, erm!).
On Friday night the ultra consistent Droopys Good finally got the nod for another excellent Romford performance. Frequently overlooked in favour of the stayers, Patrick Janssen’s black has an astonishing record since arriving in the UK, 13 races, 9 wins, 2 seconds. His fastest time too, 23.74.
On the same night, Oxford featured the finals of the GAIN Maiden Vase and Gold Cup. There was only one spot between them with Swift Iconic – unbeaten in the Gold Cup – having the edge on Outdoor Ice. It has to be said though, that in a supporting 650 open the POW goes to the new track record holder Havana Lover. In a race that included track record holder Night Time Danny and the Cat 1 regular Baggios Champ, the Leger winner was magnificent winning by nine and setting a new track record on going rated -30.
Antigua Sugar, who turned over Lover in the Juvenile Classic Final was competing at Mark Wallis’ private bank in the West Midlands, otherwise known as Monmore. And what a performance she produced, 37.50 for the 630 metres, the quickest over c&d in more than two years. (The maiden open run 36 minutes earlier was won in 39.15).
Kennelmate Minnies Bullet ran a cracker to win the Bet365 Puppy Oaks at Towcester on Sunday. Read and repeat – you can never discount a Wallis runner in a final. That was their fifth Cat One of the year and at 11-4, by far the shortest priced (7-1, 5-1, 8-1, 7-1). As for the performance though, we’ve got to be fair to the similarly aged Ballyhimikin Mel who backed up a calculated 29.46 trial with a 29.29 open win in a very decent quality supporting open.
The cancellation of Monday’s Nottingham meeting and the Eclipse semis left the week open to the graders. Unfortunately the weather continued to play (lesser) havoc with the going making time comparisons difficult. Nevertheless there was an excellent A3 win for Swift Serena in 30.12 (+40) on Friday that is well worthy of mention, her third win in seven outings.
Perry Barr didn’t have huge swings in going, most races were ten spots either side of normal. Nevertheless, the quickest run of the week was recorded in A4 company on +10 going, by Go Go Abbie. Big strong girl this one, slimmed down from 33 kilos to a slimline 32.0kg.
The Suffolk Downs selection was always going to be decided by the week’s sole A1 staged on Thursday afternoon. No sign of Olivetree Deano this week and ex-Towcester A6 runner Romeo Express took full advantage to take the first top heat of his career.
Speaking of ‘Firmager breds’, there was a forecast in the BGBF British Leger at Doncaster on Tuesday with Laurence Tuffin seeing Dorando runner-up Romeo Riot outstaying kennelmate Romeo Trooper.
Sticking with the British breds (notice the subtle linking!) and an exciting young talent for John Marriott. In a very high quality event that featured three pups previously mentioned in this feature: Keefill Danny, Acomb Alfie and Skywalker Isak, the even younger Fearsome Quest made it four wins in seven outings to land her first open. Great credit too to the grader who has given her every chance to gain her confidence in her five graded races (4-1, 6-5, 2-1, 4-5f, 6-4f).
Another locally bred hound, though this time at Sunderland. Witton Clem stepped up on his A1 and sprint open win to take another top heat in the fastest time of the week, 27.38.
Last week we flagged up the impending PGR All England Cup and the strong local challenge from the Harrison kennel. It was two of their hounds who dominated the Newcastle top heat this week. Droopys Yeehaaw won in 28.63 on Saturday, but the kennelmate who has had the better of him in recent encounters, March On Larry, had already won his third consecutive A1 earlier in the week. Runner-up was last week’s POW Abigails Jen.
Completing the North East triangle, Pelaw was flying for Sunday’s meeting with eight of the ten races breaking 26.00. Although Ballyroyal Diaz saw off the A1 with a 25.86 run, there were seven quicker times, the slickest of which was recorded by A3 winner Zuzus Petals.
Kinsley’s highest grade of the week was A2 was won by Million Wink in 28.10 with the previous three week’s POW in the field, Kilaharry Maisie and Glenvale Gav. Most weeks, that would be enough. But although times aren’t ‘the be all and end all’. When a 20 month old pup goes even quicker than that top heat winner, well, . . . . Derrymore Ella.
Swift Raisin is in a select group of to retain their POW title after landing his fourth consecutive A1 at Yarmouth. But he has a challenger, from within the Burr kennel, with Buzz Magic going six spots quicker in another A1 on the same night. There is only one way to settle this!
Looking to set his own mini sequence is Dave Lee’s Flynnys Champ. That’s three wins and a second in his first five races following a 26.73 (-20) open win at Harlow on Wednesday. Fenview Jet flopped in four open race attempts at Harlow and didn’t pull up many trees in graded company at Suffolk Downs. But the dog who could be outpaced to the first bend by the racing manager clocked the fastest run over four bends at Henlow this week. Wouldn’t he just love the return of the 550s?
The last two selections of the week both won staying opens on Sunday night. At Central Park, Tony Collett’s Jurassic Rose added to her recent Crayford hat-trick with a 40.37 (-50) run for the 642m. While at Swindon, Robert Short’s Castell Mill found 14 spots on last week’s win to become the third and final defending champ.
