The biggest meeting of the weekend was the ARC sponsored Cesarewitch Final at Central Park where Richard Rees’ Leger finalist Cochise dominated from the start and eventually came home with a couple of lengths to spare. It was his first open win after a dozen consecutive defeats and should provide succour to the ‘you have to be in it to win it’ mantra.
The supporting card included a fabulous run from May puppy Havana Allablaze. The bitch who led kennelmate Fromposttopillar to the third bend in the Puppy Collar at Oxford covered the CP 450m course in 27.31 on going rated -40. (My Mate Max’s six year old track record is 26.92)
On the same afternoon, Patrick Janssens’ Fabulous Azurra went within six spots of her Empress Stakes winning time when landing fastest second round heat of the Blue Riband at Towcester.
Friday night saw Romford staging the Essex Vase while Oxford staged the £10K British Bred Puppy Cup.
Quickest at Romford was Juvenile Classic winner Antigua Sugar with a 34.70 run for the 575m. Ultra consistent, that is five wins and four seconds in her last nine outings. While at Cowley, it was the Meaney Memorial runner-up Romeo Atomic who set the standard with a 27.07 run (TR 26.82).
Open racing returned to Nottingham on Monday but the star of the meeting was local grader Drombeg Magic. Barry Denby’s bitch had 23 500m races on her card going back to last April but her 29.84 (+50) run in A3 was by far her best to date.
On Tuesday, Sheffield’s defending Performer of the Week Chasing Norma was pitted against the giant Newcastle entry White Clover and it was the 39.4 kilo (roughly 87lb) white and black who came out in front.
Harlow is often a tricky call based on times and going. No such issues this week with another impressive run for Sharon Saberton’s Mallogs Calvin with a 26.59 (-30) run. That’s two wins and a second over c&d for the exciting youngster.
At Crayford, Lizs Legacy might have missed out to kennelmate Borna Rhythm last week, but she can’t be denied again after a 33.75, 10 length win on Saturday morning. That is six in a row for Tony Collett’s black and white dog.
Later on the same day Monmore welcomed back the open racers and Kevin Hutton produced a hugely impressive debutant in Rioja Joey. The May pup clocked 28.27 in his UK debut and will surely have plenty of followers in the forthcoming local puppy Derby. However, we’ve got to give the acknowledgement to the remarkable 15.24 sprint victory of Gougane Jet. His career stats are just incredible – and include one showing ten consecutive wins over course and distance.
Perry Barr were also active on the open race circuit. The selection has to be the 660m open winner Crokers Brandy with a 40.17 run. Only four hounds went quick in all of 2022. A special mention too though for Gerry Ballentine’s 20 month old Noels Choice who produced a 28.35 run in a maiden. Track was running superbly too.
As was Sunderland on Friday when Milldean Topaz produced the quickest run of the week, 27.21 on going rated +30. While at Pelaw, Emers Tom’s 25.41 was just two spots slower than Iniskeel Josie’s FOY run for 2022 in its entirety.
There wouldn’t have been many better A1s staged this week than the one at Newcastle on Saturday afternoon. It included last week’s POW Snake Root, plus March On Larry, Moanteen Mikey, Wraysbury Diva and Killieford Defoe. None though could live with Blackhouse Harry whose 28.44 will make it tough to grade him going forward.
Hove had three A1s on the same Thursday card with just 14 spots between the three winners. Quickest of the trio was Seamus Cahill’s pup Trigger Point with a 29.96 on -40 going.
There was a similar story at Yarmouth who staged seven A1 events won in 27.98, 28.01 (x2), 28.22, 28.24, 28.27 and 28.36. Kevin Cobbold trained two of them, including the quickest of the lot, Conna Cuckoo.
The fastest time at Suffolk Downs this week was a 23.84 run by Olivetree Deano in A2. But the week’s only A1 went to Glenside Micro in 23.85. That’s five wins in his last seven for this great moneyspinner (5-4, 9-4, 5-2, 4-1, 5-1).
Swindon didn’t fill any of their Saturday morning opens but staged a very decent A1. It went to Springside Bucko in 28.74 (-40). That’s four from his last five outings.
Most of the big players were off the scene at Doncaster this week. Quickest of the top heat winners was Sean Parker’s veteran Swift Lethal with a 29.85 (-20) win. But there was arguably a better performance on Sunday from Sue Watson’s Cold Fact with the quickest 450 seen at the track in some time,
Staying in Yorkshire, Kinsley’s selection was always going to be the winner of Sunday night’s 6.61, the week’s showpiece top heat (A2). In fact, it went to the 2022 Performer of the Year Glenvale Gav in career performance, no.83.
The last race of the week, the Henlow at 9.18 on Sunday night, provided the last selection, as Richard Devenish’s home bred Glatton Gianni landed an A2 in 27.49 on normal going.
