What a great week to be a Geordie. Just six days after Coolavanny Aunty landed the big prize at the annual awards, Bellmore Sally added her name to the list of the great Golden Jacket winners when defending her title in fabulous fashion.
The Jimmy Fenwick trained brindle didn’t just win the final, the won it in the style of a champion, finding half a length off her 2022 winning time and also clocked an identical 23.07 sectional.
Meanwhile back at base camp, Links Maverick was once again magnificent in landing the ARC Northern Puppy Derby for Tom Heilbron. That is seven in a row on three different tracks. A special mention too for the fabulous stayer Darbys Delight with the quickest 640 run since 2021, 38.77. (TR 38.56).
The Coronation Cup and Golden Sprint are just less than a fortnight away at Romford, and Romeo Top Gun will be expected to go some way in the six bend event having won his last two over course and distance and clocking 34.78 on Friday night –a length and a half quicker on the night than the recent Essex Vase winner Aayamza Magic.
Eleven minutes earlier, Matt Dartnall’s Fifty Nine had been tackling the Oxford six bend course and went within two spots of the track record with a 40.08 run on going rated -15.
No opens for Hove this week but a string of decent A1s, none better than Tuesday’s 29.65 (-20) run from Footfield Ruby. Keep an eye open too for April pup Variation, who has worked his way up from A7 and saw off an A4 field by six lengths in 29.87 (-20). That ‘on the bunny’ experience may well see further improvement.
Meanwhile the locals were busy elsewhere picking up a five timer at Monmore where Richard Rees’ Churchfield Syd went quicker than all six Winter Derby heat winners when taking a puppy open in 28.22. Handy split too (4.30), with only Hopes Paddington (4.27) going quicker.
Brummy neighbours Perry Barr staged their top race of the week on the same night where Lynwood Assin took full advantage of the absence of Noels Choice to make a grab for the crown. He led home a field that included previous POW winners Home Bronagh, Lakeside Lady and Greenhill Evie in the week’s quickest time, 28.52 (-20).
Open racing returned to Swindon on Thursday where defending POW Ballymac Imo was rated a 7-1 chance against kennelmate Ballymac Conti (11-10f). Both were to miss out though as Goldies Perryman (7-4) slipped his field and won in an ‘okay’ 28.69 (-20).
18 months ago, Shockwave Onyx clocked 28.42 at Swindon though it got him no better third place in the Produce Stakes Final. On Sunday, he was plying his trade at Towcester where he clocked the fastest ‘500’ of the week, 29.44.
Onyx’s career actually began at Henlow and his first ever race win was a 27.41 at just 20 months old. There was nothing of comparison this week with only one hound breaking 28.00. That was A6 winner, Stellas Belle.
Half an hour later, there was another Pestana bitch pup impressing racegoers as Blue Tick Queen clocked easily the quickest of the three A3s at Kinsley. Her winning time was just five spots short of Starcash Henry’s FOY.
He might not be the biggest at 29.7kg, but Mallogs Calvin stood out on Monday night’s Nottingham card. Sharon Saberton’s runner clocked the fastest 480 of the year to date, 28.69. While back at home track Harlow, Errill Lucey’s 26.52 win in top heat (A5), was her seventh win in her last 14 races.
Sheffield staged a competitive 500m open on Tuesday with Skywalker Stan (5-4f), narrowly heading the market from Chasing Norma (7-4) and Witton Venus (2-1). But it was second favourite Norma who won for the fourth time in her last six outings and clocked the FON, 28.92.
Yarmouth’s selection was straightforward with Droopys Sport being the only sub 28.00 winner this week. But the big black back’s up ability with consistency – it was his seventh win in his last 11 outings.
The shortest priced performer was Singalong Dovee who went to traps at 2-7f for the B1 at Doncaster on Sunday. The brindle overcame all sorts of trouble but had enough in hand to extend her winning sequence to five. Overall she has 14 wins from 20 races.
On the subject of retained titles, Glengar Daisy saw off Suffolk Downs’ top four bend race of the week. A mention too for Nassau with the quickest run to date for the new 548m trip, 34.11.
The most competitive call was at Sunderland where Haaland and Was Just Thinkin weighed in with 27.18 winning times, with Minnies Mira just a short head away with a 27.19. But the selection is Paul Miller’s runner who was performing in A1.
Last June, Snake Root finished runner-up in Sunderland’s ARC Puppy Trophy. On Sunday, He made his first appearance in graded company at Pelaw Grange and took the top race of the day in 25.85.
Later in the day, the Collett kennel won opens over three different distances at Central Park. Pick of the trio was the remarkable Lizs Legacy with a 29.45 (-50) run over 480m. She has won two thirds of her last 15 races and has open race wins from 265-540m.
