Wednesday’s SKY night, the highlight of the William Hill Festival was the best to date.
Track boss Joe O’Donnell said: “We had over 1,000 through on a Wednesday night, which has to be good. It was good to see a top class Irish runner in the final and the overall quality of entry was excellent.
“And of course it was quite ironic that the Keightleys had the ante post favourite (Hiya Butt) for the Classic but then won it with their second string. But that’s taking nothing away from the winner who won the final on merit.”
Roxholme Scolari looks a picture as the William Hill Classic winner poses with Hayley Keightley.
Sunderland 13th July 2016.
Photo: Steve Nash
Sunderland had taken on two new trainers to replace the departing Wendy Miller.
O’Donnell said: “It is very sad to see Wendy go. The lease on her kennel was due up, but she seems to have been badly hit by the death of her father George who was also greatly liked here. We wish her the best for the future.”
The two new arrivals are Ricky Overton who is transferring from Doncaster and George Stark who has been racing at Shawfield.
O’Donnell added: “Ricky has come highly recommended from the way his runners have performed at Doncaster. George Stark is one of the sport’s great characters. For those who don’t know him, the word to sum him up would probably be ‘flamboyant’. He has applied here before but didn’t have a big enough kennel. But they have expanded their operation and we look forward to George joining us.”
Tom Tom Charlie (Ninja Jamie-Ardcroney Olivia, Nov 13) is Sunderland’s most prolific winner in 201.6 Graham Strike’s scratch runner has been to traps on 20 occasions for 10 wins, seven seconds and one KO! And yes – if you had bet £10 on him each time he went to traps this year, you would be £58 in front.
9 wins: Jacks Champ, 8 wins: Catunda Bella, Lisneal Nellie, Pine Branch, Steves Summer, Tullig Hailstone, Whites McCool
Sunderland’s oldest runner Derrylough Annie (Astronomic-Derrylough Topps, Oct 09) is just two races short of her double century. She joined the kennel strength in December 2011.
