The Star Sports Bookmakers and ARC English Greyhound Derby reached the semi-final stage at Nottingham on Saturday evening and what an evening of racing we had – writes Mark Pierrepont.
A full open race card, brimming with superstar talent got underway with the heats of the RPGTV Puppy Trophy.
Heat 1 went the way of Mark Wallis’s Antigua Bruiser who trapped well and made ever post a winning one. He stopped the clock in 29.84 with Phil Barlow’s Ballydoyle Razor 1 1/4 back in the second qualifying spot for next week’s final. Razor ran on strongly and ensured that Bruiser kept up to his work in the latter stages.
Cold As Ice was sent off a warm order 4/6 for this first heat but he was slowly away, crowded run up and then encountered even worse trouble at the first bend when initially he collided with Rackethall Vicky and then worse still with Greedy Farmer. His chance was gone from an early stage but this half brother to Ice On Fire among many other top class greyhounds remains one to keep on side going forward.
In heat 2 Kevin Boon’s Atarah King showed awesome pace on career debut, hitting the line first time in a sensational for a pup 4.94 he led his rivals a merry dance until shortly after the turn for home.
His superiority over the opposition until this point was clear to see but he visibly cramped at the 500m boxes and was eventually not just run out of it for the win but also for a qualifying spot. He was picked up late by Pat Godfrey’s Arthur Sprout who won the race in 30.47 with Boon’s other representative in the race Ballymac Fearnot running on for second beaten 1/2 length.
The winners time tells the tale of the race and it is Atarah King who eventually finished third who should be taken from the race, particularly if appearing soon around the likes of Romford or a similar track where emphasis is based more upon speed than stamina.
Michelle Brown’s One For Gold showed his liking for a galloping circuit having previously been beaten on both career starts to date around the tighter venue of Romford.
He took full advantage of what proved a plot draw on the outside of the track as the remaining runners did each other little favours in the early stages as they crowded up the centre of the track. Final Xafonic for Kim Billingham is yet to win in 8 starts but his turn is surely not far away. He showed plenty of pace in defeat, going down by a never nearer length at the finish in 30.16.
