BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

What a fabulous Oaks this is proving to be – in no small thanks to the Irish. Perry Barr’s 28.00 barrier is one of the most solid times anywhere in racing. Think: Windy Millar (28.29), Fear Zafonic (28.32), Taylors Sky (28.07). Set against those, Skywalker Cilla’s run, to within five spots of Drumkeen Oyster’s eight year old track record, is just sensational.

Friday night featured the opening round of a high quality Coral Champion Stakes where Warzone Tom confirmed the validity of his 35.29 trialstake win with a 35.03 run.

There was a stunning card too at Towcester on Sunday where Deanridge Awesom picked up the Graders Derby. But prize money in itself doesn’t constitute a POW. Nor does the clock. With absolute respect to Antigua Lava’s 56.38 run for the new 912m trip, the nod has to go to Space Jet making her eight bend debut. As Matt Dartnall’s bitch, locked horns on the second circuit with half sister Savana Volcano and ‘The Queen’ – well, just awesome.

Later the same day, the phenomenon that is Brookside Richie extended his career record to 14 races, 11 wins, 3 seconds in the semi finals of the ARC Kent Derby. May we present the 2021 Newcomer of the Year.

On any other Sunday, Henlow pup Sharky Jezabelle would have been grabbing the headlines. Keith Robins’ 34 kilo black (2-5f) made it five wins from eight starts when taking the final of a puppy comp in 27.41.

Later still the Angie Kibble trained pair Sayyousayme and Westway Blake reversed form in the £500 final with Blake one spot off the FOY. Special mention too for Headford Harry who equaled his own FOY for the sprint.

Last week’s Nottingham selection Ramors Jet lived up to his hype once again by extending his winning sequence to four. It will be hard to oppose him if he makes it five later on this evening. Sheffield’s reigning Performer of the Week Balyboss Baz didn’t fare so well thought, beaten four lengths by Angela Harrison’s Hardy Rebel.

Back at Newcastle though, it was Ted Soppitt’s 20 month puppy Skywalker Forte (formerly Droopys Graduate) who blew them away in the first race of his life.

Outstanding open race performances are easier to call than graded ones. But Shelbys Memory did just that with a career best 28.26 (-10) A1 win on Saturday at Monmore. It was his fifth win in his last ten outings for Arran Dunn’s home bred. Another locally born hound to have polished off the week’s top race is Pelaw winner Hurleys Spring. Mum’s best ever clock was 26.06, Spring’s new PB is 25.87.

The lines between graded racing and opens are never more blurred than at Harlow where Lemming Polo produced the best four bend run of the week in an A6. The six bend open winner looks to have benefitted by slimming down to his lowest ever racing weight with a 26.34 run on a slow track.

Risk Factor’s last race at Harlow was also a win in A6. On Saturday she made the Crayford ‘Top 10 540s of the Year’ list at Crayford with a 33.63 run.

At Yarmouth though, it is rare for anything other than an A1 runner to clock the fastest time of the week. This week they staged two of whom Roxholme Irene was the fastest of the pair in 27.73. A 28.00 was enough to secure top slot over the equivalent distance at Kinsely for Peads Dazzler. Yorkshire neighbours Doncaster staged one A1, and it was won in the best time of the week, courtesy of veteran Kilara Bugle who has a recent run of 4:5.

Last year’s Derby finalist Smurfs Machine has never returned to his absolute peak following setbacks but his 29.54 on another slow track at Hove (-30), suggests he is far from a spent force.

Mucho Macho Jack didn’t quite match last week’s sub 27.00 run for the 450m but Karolyn Blackbird’s runner must be bordering on ungradable at Sunderland.