THE CESAREWITCH IS BACK - WHAT A CLASSIC - Greyhound Star

Greyhound racing welcomes back one of its great events – the Coral Cesarewitch – to the racing Calendar tonight at Romford.

One of the original six classics, the Cesarewitch was almost as prestigious as the English Derby. Staged over 600 yards on the biggest circuit in England’s West Ham’s Custom House, it was an event for the toughest middle distance runners – remembering the Derby was staged over 525 yards at the time.

(It also boasted the best ‘**** off’ trophy in the business.)

Check down the Roll of Honour, and the great of the leash are all there: Mick The Miller, Future Cutlet, Local Interprize, Pigalle Wonder, Mile Bush Pride, Prairie Flash, Silver Hope . . .

When West Ham closed in 1972, the Cesarewitch became the marathon classic and was staged at Belle Vue. Like the Scurry and the Gold Collar, the prestige of the event was whittled away by promoters GRA and the event lost its status. Shipped off to Catford and then Oxford, it eventually ended up as a £2,000 stayers race.

Is it the ‘real’ Cesarewitch? Why not! The prize money reflects the history and importance of the event and the quality of the field will bring a smile to the faces of racing’s historians.

Trainer Paul Young (Three Ems) said: “She has settled in now. She’d only been in the kennels for about ten days before the heats. She has had a couple of gallops and is a different bitch now.

“I am very happy with the draw because I think she can dominate on the rail. Last week I thought she was looking after herself a bit. The Perry Barr dog got in her way and she only wanted to pass on the rails. I thiink she can lead up the two and three in what looks a great final.”

Trainer Martyn Wiley (Mays Sweetpea) said: “She is 50-1 for a reason. I think it is a fair price. She is completely devoid of early, but stays forever. We would have had more chance staging it at Aintree. A great race though.”

Trainer Mark Wallis (Aayamza Royale) said: “What a corker of a final. It is probably at least as good as the TV Trophy we won last year. Probably the only one missing, who I think would have gone really well in here is Antigua Fire who picked up a stress fracture of a metatarsal in a trial against Aayamza Royal at Nottingham. He will be off now until the St.Leger. It is frustrating; they were only trialling because we couldn’t get races for them.

“I think Aayamza Royale is in there with a reasonable chance in what is a great final. Zascandil got away from her last time and I would expect her to improve from that run, which she needed. But there is quality throughout the field. 4-1 seems decent value.”

Owner and trainer Kevin Boon (Zascandil) said: “It is a genuinely great final. Mark’s bitch, Mick Kemp’s bitch, and of course Three Ems who I sold. A few people have questioned why I sold her. Well for once I put my builder businessman’s head on, and not the dog man’s head and it was a good deal.

“But if Zascandil doesn’t win it, I will be cheering home Three Ems. I bred her myself out of Bodyclock, the dam of Sheldan. She came over from Ireland at 15 weeks and was reared here. I have two pups out of Skywalker Farloe coming through from the next litter and and another young pups by Ballmac Best to look forward to. In fact the agreement over Three Ems is that if they don’t want to breed with her, she will come back to me.

“Zascandil will have to ping to win it. He is class dog as he showed to come from behind to win the Regency. But to beat Three Ems, he would need to be six clear heading into the last lap, in my view.”

Trainer Pat Doocey (Affirmed) said: “In my view he would need more than a bit of luck to win it. I think the favourite is the one to beat. He does have a break in him as he showed in a marathon at Monmore, where he did a good sectional, but normally you would expect him to be slow away and running on. The problem in here is that they all stay well.”

Mick Kemp, father of Michelle Brown (Micks Little Gem), said: “I can’t believe her price. I honestly think she should be 5-2 joint favorite with the fastest winner (Zascandil). She needed the run last last week and I would expect her to find two or three lengths on that run. She was checked over by Ron Mills and was trapped up, but has been put right.

“I don’t think Zascandil really sees out the trip and I think she can dispute the lead with him early on and outstay him. I am only really looking for a clear run. They are two big dogs on her inside and I wouldn’t want her tangling with her around the first two bend. But with any luck, she will win it. In fact, we have been very lucky with the draws tonight and if things went our way I think we could have a four-timer.”