Two years ago, Space Jet set the current Perry Barr 710m track record with a 42.59 run on her way to the Leger title. Last year’s FOY was recorded by Havana Lover (42.96) who also went on to land ‘the stayers classic’. Quickest this year to date is Droopys Clue with a 42.76 run . . . . .
52 weeks ago Coolavanny Shado won his East Anglian Derby semi final in 27.33 (N) and would go into the final as the 1-4f, only to be turned over by Hopes Paddington. On Saturday, he won his semi in 27.40 (-20). When he went to traps a year ago, his six most recent lines of form were: 1st, 2nd, 5th, 1st, 2nd, 1st. This year they will read: 1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st.
There were shocks a plenty in the Puppy Cup at Romford with Coolavanny Mercy beating ante post favourite Droopys Doughnut by eight lengths in the quickest run of the round and just two lengths off Roxholme Nidge’s amazing track record. (Worth noting that Coolavanny Shado/Mercy were both bred by Shane O’Gorman, while Droopys Clue/Doughnut were bred by his neighbours and good friends Sean & Michael Dunphy). A special mention too for Candolim Monsoon and Hollow Man with clocked identical times of 34.68 for Romford’s stayer’s trip. The FOY is Romeo Top Gun’s 34.66.
Top Gun returned to the track following an injury lay-off and won at Towcester on Sunday afternoon in 29.62. But his spotlight was stolen later in the meeting when litter brother Romeo Command put up a 29.22 run. Of his last 20 races, the Derby runner-up has won 16, with 3 seconds a third (Select Stakes).
Droopys Reserve was the Hove selection a couple of weeks ago after a 29.25 run. He was expensively turned over next time out but clocked the second fastest 500 of the year on Thursday. The 29.14 run was just six spots behind New Destiny’s FOY and was recorded on going rated -10.
If all Maiden Derbys went to unexposed expensive imports, there would be little point in local graders taking part. Unanimous Boy won one of his three A1s before landing the Category Two Oxford decider for Richard Yeates. His winning time was a respectable 27.14. But we will have to overlook him in favour of Chris Hamblin’s 18 month old Sir Oreo who won the first race of his career, an A2 on the same card, in 26.96.
Meanwhile the Betgoodwin Henlow Maiden Gold Cup semis took place on Sunday night when Carol Weatherall’s Untold Paanga (4-9f) continues to dominate. The 33.90 winning time was nothing special, though it was recorded on -30 going. The 19 month old pup is unbeaten in his three races to date.
We’ll admit to being a bit conflicted over the Crayford selection. We’ve stuck with Laughil Jess – yes, again – following her eighth consecutive victory at the track as she completed a 12-timer. Huge credit to the consistency of the lady herself and Dave Lee for keeping her in such great form. But a mention too for litter sisters Antons Maggie and Chosen Maggie for their 45.29/45.08 double over the eight bend course for Michelle Brown. The Irish bred pair by Ballymac Anton out of Kent St Leger winner, and eight time Cat One finalist, Slippy Maggie.
Off course, Jess isn’t the only one in the kennel capable of building up big sequences. Despite the loss of a meeting to due to hot weather, Bluejig Baron extended his winning sequence to five when clocking the quickest run over the middle distance at Central Park on Sunday.
Regular readers may recall us flagging up a puppy after her first ever official solo (in fact, after her first ever schooling trial). All these months on and Queen Joni set her name in the record books when setting a new clock for the Swindon 476m with a 27.53 run.
King Biggy wasn’t reckoned good enough to make the cut at KSS and was beaten in 15 consecutive D1s at Doncaster. But he has pace when he gets it right and produced the fastest 450 of the year to date with a 27.47 run.
Not a lot to get too excited about at Nottingham on Monday. Nothing the matter with the track; three A2s won in 30.13, 30.15, 30.16. On balance the best run of the night was possibly Whisky Sallagh in the 255m sprint open. Craig Marston’s pup clocked 15.09, the fourth fastest run of the year over c&d.
Nor was there much to shout about at Suffolk Downs with the S1 quicker than the three Thursday afternoon staying opens. Said winner was Eric Cantillon’s Wave Me On whose 34.32 win followed victories in 23.95 and 23.66 over the shorter trip.
Saleen Icon completed an open hat-trick at Sheffield on Tuesday with a 28.82 run. But that only endorses the quality of the run by 19 month old Skywalker Amanda in just the fourth race of her career.
Two nights later the Soppitt/Patterson double act were back in their native Geordieland with the January pup Skywalker Pele. The 33 kilo black, who turned over Crafty Shivoo with a 28.02 run at Monmore, didn’t trap well but matched the quickest of the all-aged open winners on the night with a 28.45 run.
There was something of a royal visit at neighbouring Sunderland on the same night as Angel Of The North Magical Camilla appeared in her first ever graded race at the track and stepped up on a 27.12 trial with a 27.03 (+20) A1 win. The biggest surprise? She returned at 4-1!
It was back to graded fare at Monmore where Vixons King looked favourite as the POW selection after beating Evening Shadow and Barnfield Barra in 28.33 (+10) on Tuesday. But on Saturday, Evening Shadow beat Vixons King and Barnfield Barra. Later form trumps earlier form.
Mustang Tyson was Pelaw top dog three runs ago but was turned over by Milagro each of the last two weeks. But the tables were turned on Sunday afternoon when Ian Hopper’s veteran reclaimed his crown.
This time last year God Bless was about to be eliminated from the semi finals of the Birmingham Cup. After a spell in A2 at Swindon he joined the graded strength at Harlow where he is unbeaten in two including the quickest 415m run this week, 26.71 (-20).
It seemed likely that the Kinsley selection would come from Sunday’s A2 featuring the defending POW Ballymac Alyssa. But she was turned over by 28.00 winner Easy Cookie. However, just 15 minutes earlier, Waste House Diva had destroyed an A6 field by seven lengths in 27.84. Could she have won the A2? Probably not. But this was a bitch who had only won once in her previous 22 races and was recording her a PB in her 48th run over course and distance. Go girl!
