Fastest semi final winner Oscar Whisky should go on to land Wednesday’s Coral Sussex Cup and establish himself as a top class tracker. That’s the view of Hove assistant RM Jeff Piper.
Drawn blue in Thursday night’s semis, Charlie Lister’s 4-6f trapped alongside Lemon Jamesy (T5) and Ascot Woodie (T4) and although marginally down at the 110m split, Oscar Whisky (Droopys Oscar-Droopys Danneel, May 14) was soon in control. He crossed the 515m mark in 29.77 (-20) with Ascot Woodie some five lengths in arrears.
All three semis were won by favourites and the first went to Whisky’s litter brother Dorotas Tiger (T1 4-5f). In a style similar to Whisky, the brindle broke on terms but then showed decent early pace (4.39 sect) to dominate at the first bend. He was pursued by the white jacketed Barricane Tiger but although the 7-2 second favourite closed to within three quarters of a length, Dorotas was the stronger Tiger crossing the line in 29.86 (-20).
The second semi also went to a Towcester greyhound, in this case the 2-1f Calco Flyer (Blonde Snapper-Blonde Fern, Sep 12). Mark Wallis’ runner trapped well but was outrun to the bend by John Mullins’ Oakfield Caesar (T5) whose 4.26 sectional was the quickest of the sextet. But while Flyer took the bends like a Mercedes, Caesar negotiated them like a double-decker. One two many wide turns cost Caesar the race though he nevertheless ran on gamely to keep the margin down to three quarters of a length behind Mark Wallis’ 30.07 (-20) winner.
The outstanding performance of the night though surely belonged to Paul Young’s exciting young find, Bubbly Bluebird (Droopys Sydney-Broadstrand Xola, Sep 14) in the Coral Puppy Trophy. Though narrowly led by Little Elmo (4.23), the orange jacketed 6-4f beat Forest Danny by four and a half in a fastest of night, 29.76 (-20).
The other qualifiers went to Kranky Damo (Quail Hollow-Kranky Leona, Aug 14) who beat Maxitout by three in 30.15 (-20) and Sidarian Padre (Vans Escalade-Drive Ahead, Aug 14) who got home by a neck from the dead-heating Dranoel and Droopys Arma in 30.51 (-20).
In the three qualifers of the Coral Sprint: Laughing Gravy (7-2) beat Cumann Jet by a length in 16.44 (Glenanore Ace 5-4f was fourth), Quivers Lima (7-2) beat Lenson Santi (Evens) by a length and a quarter in 16.44, and Swift Watson (7-2) beat Ela Ela Genie (3-1) by a length and a half in 16.28 (Scolari Sound 5-4f was fifth)
In the qualifiers of the Coral Ladies Trophy: Office Flirt (7-2) beat Live Annie (6-4f) by two and a quarter in 30.11, Cooly Caviar (8-1), beat Banabane (2-1f) by three quarters of a length in 30.20, and Quivers Camps (5-1) beat Patchys Kerry (1-1f) by a head in 30.32.
Draws below
CALCO FLYER (t1) wins the second Sussex Cup semi Photo: Steve Nash
SWIFT WATSON (t6) lives up to his name – fastest of the Coral Sprint heats 16.28 from Ela Ela Genie (t2) Photo: Steve Nash
Trap draw:
SUSSEX CUP: 1) Oscar Whisky, 2) Calco Flyer, 3) Dorotas Tiger, 4) Barricane Tiger, 5) Ascot Woodie (M), 6 Oakfield Caesar (W)
LADIES TROPHY: 1) Cooly Caviar, 2) Patchys Kerry, 3) Quivers Camps, 4) Office Flirt (M), 5) Live Annie, (W) 6) Banabane (W)
SPRINT: 1) Ela Ela Genie, 2) Cumann Jet, 3) Quivers Lima, 4) Lenson Santa (W), 5) Laughing Gravy (W), 6) Swift Watson (W)
The Puppy Trophy is delayed subject to a dead-heat for qualification
Jeff Piper said: “The Sussex Cup looks set up for Oscar Whisky in one, unless Calco Flyer got a flyer, and even then I don’t know if he could hold the red to the first bend. At the start of the competition, there didn’t seem to be any superstars in it, they just aren’t around. But Oscar Whisky impressed in his first trial here and gradually has shown that he has the potential to be recognised as a top class dog, particularly if he goes on to win the final.
“Of the other finals, for the sprint you have to look to the dogs on the outside. If Swift Watson was to trap, I don’t see anything coming from behind him. Cooly Caviar looks well place in the bitches final. Patchys Kerry didn’t show the sort of early pace to dominate the final in the heats. She would obviously be a threat if she trapped but then she would still have to clear Quivers Camps who has great early. I fear Seamus’ two on the outside could cut each others throats on the run to the bend.”
