Like scoring the winner in the Cup Final, breaking a track record for the Derby course is an achievement that is always remembered. Not that Swords Rex didn’t already boast a massive reputation – 27.79 for 525 at Shelbourne, beating Hawkfield Ozark by eight lengths.
Or the 27.93 at Clonmel, the 27.99 at Cork. He struggled in finals last year (beaten favourite in both the Produce Stakes and Laurels Finals) but has an Easter Cup already to his name in 2023. So Sunday’s 28.76 is not an ‘out of the blue’ performance. Of course, neither was Fromposttopillar’s 28.61 in a post meeting solo. Bring it on!.
The weekend’s sole Cat One decider took place at Kinsley where four of the six open winners gave the punters bloody noses (6-1, 9-1,10-1, 14-1). One of the exceptions was August pup Stormy News who was clinical with a faultless 27.75 to land the Bresbet Gymcrack. Given his age, and the calibre of the race, Mick Hurst’s runner might seem an obvious ‘POW’ selection. (Though in all honesty, his semi was more impressive) But how could you dismiss the 27.28 from Jill Sutherst’s Witton Venus in a supporting open? It was the fastest time set at the track in almost five years.
Kennelmate Witton Supremo, a litter sister of Gymcrack finalist Watchhall Sid has had a stop/start career but clearly has talent. She went out of the Kinsley event in the first round but bounced back to clocked a flying 27.04 back at Sunderland where she has won three of her four races. Definitely one for the notebook.
The 37 kilo Final Blast went out of the Gymcrack at the semi final stage. But on Saturday, John Lambe’s pup went quicker than the A1, A2 and A3 winners with a 28.62 back at home track Perry Barr. A sub 28.50 is surely pending.
Terry Munslow’s Avongate Ross was the pick of the bunch at Nottingham on Monday. Never lower than A2, he landed the quickest 500m open in 29.75 to give a remarkable Colwick Park strike rate of 13/28 (46.4%). If you had backed him to £10 in each of his races, you’d be £78 in front over his career. One more point, Ross is a bit of a ‘streaker’, 10 of his wins have come courtesy of two hat-tricks and a four-timer.
White Clover has been overshadowed by kennelmate Links Maverick who finished in front of him in two Cat One finals this year. But Big Boy Clover, a snack below 40kgs (88lbs), came good at Sheffield on Tuesday with the fastest 500 open of the night. Nice to see Biscuit Billy returning to the winner’s circle for the first time since a broken hock last July.
The ray-timer is of big assistance in compiling this column, but it certainly isn’t the ‘be all and end all’. At Suffolk Downs on Thursday, Luna Jezabelle was over half a second down on her track record run from last week, but the last-to-first run over the six bend course was infinitely more impressive.
Another of last week’s headliners retained his crown at Swindon on Thursday as the track staged another decent open race card with eight races over three distances. Twolengthstoogood deserves a mention for going within 10 spots of the quickest 476 of the year. But Headford Harry simultaneously found time and confirmed the judge’s going allowance. A week ago, his 15.52 was rated at (-30) for the sprint. Seven days later equalled the fastest time of the year with a 15.24 (N) run this week.
For ‘Harry’ read Paul Burr’s ‘Super Nova’ at Romford. He followed up last week’s 23.60 win in the heats of a Romford ‘Cat 3’ by taking the final in 23.60. It was a fabulous exhibition of steering wide on the straights and nipping through on the inside of his rivals at the bend. Lewis Hamilton would be envious.
Meanwhile back at Yarmouth, Nova’s kennelmate Drumdoit Jack grows with every outing. The 21 month old has three wins and a second from six outings including the week’s only sub 28.00 run (by some margin!).
With fewer A1 runners around Yarmouth often utilise the faster runners twice in the week using their Monday/Saturday fixtures. Doncaster did something similar this week. On Monday, Crying Old Kevin (4-1) beat Trevilla Storm (13-8f) in 30.00 (N). Punters weren’t deterred when the pair met again five days later. Sean Parker’s Storm was made the 15-8f and saw off Kevin (11-4) by just over four lengths in 29.89 (-20).
Those who would dare to oppose Kilshannig Marie after another masterful display at Crayford!!! Last-to-first, changing lanes and overtaking like an Essex white van man on the M25, before reeling in Capel Rose close home to prevail by a head. The crowd went wild Brian!
On Friday night at Oxford, there was remarkable consistency between the last six races: 27.28 (A2), 27.19 (O/R), 27.14 (O/R), 27.20 (O/R), 27.25 (A2), 27.20 (A1). All on going rated -10. In fact, on (+10) going, the fastest time of the week was recorded by Drohobych Leader earlier in the week, 27.05. So, the toughest call of this week’s selections goes to Kevin Hutton’s puppy Rioja Maxi in winning the maiden open in just the second race of her career.
Earlier in his career, the term ‘consistent’ would not necessarily have applied to Droopys Biggy. His pace was never in doubt; he clocked 28.55 at 17 months old in his Newcastle qualifying trials. But his last-to-first running style would once see him go 16 races without a win. So unveiling the new mature Droopys Biggy, winner of his last four in a row (3 x A1, 1 O/R) and quickest winner of the week in 28.75.
Pelaw grader Joey Sauvage went to traps at 9-1 on Sunday morning, having started at 20-1 in her previous two A2 races. Not that prices seem to faze her, her previous two wins were at 11-1 and 5-1. Long story short – won by three and a half in the fastest time of the day.
Hove racegoers have been entertained by a particularly talented group of open class pups in recent weeks. Among those overshadowed by the likes of Marees Champion and Droopys Clue is Belinda Green’s Joes Sagar. But back among the graders, the June whelp produced the fastest A1 win of the week, 29.45 (-10).
Back in February, Hitthelids Mylo finished third in a semi final of the Winter Derby. On Saturday night he was back among the A1 runners at Monmore and set a new personal best of 28.37. A mere 56 weeks since making his debut in A7.
No opens at Harlow, but no questioning the outstanding performance of the week. It belonged to Sunday morning winner Essjay John whose 26.50 was not only the fastest time of the week, but it completed a fiver-timer at the Essex track.
Central Park’s ‘water table’ issues haven’t gone away, but they are being ‘managed’. On Sunday they were -30 for the 642 metres and Tony Collett’s Anglesey Away produced the quickest 642 of the year. She was last early, didn’t lead until the fifth bend and won eight. Further to come?
The last name on the chart came from the week’s penultimate race and belonged to Henlow A1 winner, Slippin Jimmy. The 27.57 was a new PB for the not so large blue who has shed almost 2 kilos in the last month.
