BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

Easiest pick of the week must be the unbeaten Silver Salver winner Shrewd Call – all three victories recorded within a length of each other as he extended his record to eight wins and three seconds from 12 races.

We faced another ‘cannot separate’ decision at Hove where the selections went to the fastest heat winners in the Sussex Cup and Regency respectively, King Sheeran and Antigua Fire.

Until this week, the last time that Plaza Lep won a race, was when he beat King Sheeran at Nottingham last November. Great to see him back and in a flying 28.39 for the 480 metres.

Some of the selections just pick themselves. If you are going to clock the fastest time in the opening round of the All England Cup, you are it – Hiya Boyo.

A sub 28.00 run will is always going to be a contender to get on the chart at Yarmouth and a 27.83 was more than enough for this week’s selection, Quiet Man. Likewise, if you clock 28.30 for 480m at Perry Barr, you are pretty much nailed-on guaranteed the nomination. Better still if you almost share the name of your trainer Ballymac Evan/Carol Evans.

If you are looking for most prolific names to appear on the chart, you would do well to find a more regular name than the dual distance star Referendum, a winner of eight of his 13 races at Sheffield. Or at Crayford, has any runner appeared more often in the last year than Droopys Noodle?

Kevin Hutton has had decent success with ‘Magical’ dogs, but this Monmore’s most impressive winner of the week Magical Otis is under the capable care of Kim Billingham.

When there is little between times, consistency has to play a part and few boast better records than Seaglass Shadow, a winner of five of her last seven outings at Romford. Brother Goldies Hoddle won his fourth in his last six on the same card.

But how do you separate three A1s on the same card unless by times? The trio of Pelaw Grange winners ran within three two spots of each other, but the quickest was Glengiblin Billy.

Staying in the North East, Sporting Galileo clocked the fastest sprint of the year (at 2-5f). It was seven years ago on Saturday that his sire Pinpoint Maxi won the Classic over the 450 metre course.

Even if Foyle Scolari hadn’t clocked the best 415m run of the week at Harlow, we would want to mention him for the most obscure of reasons, his colouring. He is “white and black and blue and brindle“

The Doncaster POW was guaranteed to go to young Jimmy Gaskin who had an impressive four-timer on Sunday, but with which dog? At 12.16pm, the award looked set for Ballymac Rocker after a 29.64 A2 win, but 15 minutes later it had been snatched by kennelmate Waikiki Limit with a 29.60 run for the 483m. At neighbouring Kinsley, home of the Gymcrack, Milltown Road clocked the second fastest time of the year, 27.42.

Meanwhile former Doncaster A4 runner Jet Stream Ivy rattled off her latest top grade win at Swindon with the quickest 476 of the week.

While most of the fast runs came from open racers or top heat winners, Henlow’s Tel Boy produced the best run of the week in a near eight length win in A7 grade. While at sister track Towcester, Mister Brentford had a better weekend than the team he is named after, by taking the A2 top heat.

Colossus Bets Silver Salver winner Shrewd Call with trainer David Mullins and wife Julie, after scooping the £3000 first prize and £10,000 bonus courtesy of sponsor for unbeaten run through the competition.
Central Park Sunday 19th July 2020
Photo: © Steve Nash