With a few surprises but fewer shock eliminations, the 630m Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic looks like building all the way to the final.
Quickest on the Monmore clock in the first round was Produce Stakes winner Swansalona Diva who enjoyed an early buckle with Risky Pumpkin in heat one before facing a more serious challenge from Bubbly Gold.
Paul Young’s brindle took up the running between the third and fourth bends but looked vulnerable along the backstraight and Kevin Hutton’s Diva powered away for a thorough deserved win in the fastest time of the day, 38.00 (-20). Unfortunately for connections, Diva was withdrawn from the event the following morning after coming amiss
Barnish Panther (5-2) was the shortest priced runner eliminated on the day and his exit in heat 2 was the result of a slow break behind Jaytee Osprey.
After popping clear from the boxes, Osprey was soon clear of the pack. With four bends gone, eventual second and third Cremartin Lark and Woodmancote Bert were at the back of the field.
Although they were both travelling much quicker than the winner in the final metres, she never looked like being beaten in 38.33 (-20).
Local champ Moss Lane Sue took an early lead in heat three but looked to have been brushed aside by favourite Blakefield Jack as they crossed the winning line for the first time.
Sue continued to back pedal on the second circuit as Aayamzamodel took closer order. Approaching the last two bends, Tybar Hondo moved up to challenge as Sue moved back to fourth.
But on the run-in, the leading trio were all treading water and Sue flashed past on the best of the going on the outside for a hd/sh win over Jack and Hondo in 38.39: also on going rated -20.
The showpiece qualifier was heat four where the Regency 1-2 were due to renew their rivalry.
The early running was cut out by Fivestar Clipper but as they crossed the winning line for the first time, Teddy was on his shoulder.
The two Hove runners continued to lead along the backstraight where Teddy’s stamina began to kick in.
Touch Tackle had moved into third and then into second as Clipper tired, but Teddy was never going to lose his lead and he won by a length and a half in 38.26 (-20).
The most bizarre performance went to Droopys Gonza in the penultimate heat.
Barrie Draper’s runner disputed the early lead with Farley Rio and swept past crossing the winning line for the first time. He was three clear when he appeared to slow at the pick-up on the backstraight and allowed Rio to retake the lead.
Once he realised his mistake, Gonza rallied and went on to win by a couple of lengths in 38.43 (-30).
The final heat went to Crayford specialist Westmead Lola who disputed the early lead with Kakantu but went clear from the first bend. She was never challenged as Patchys Kerry finally forced her way past Kevin Boon’s runner to snatch second.
The winner clocked a comparatively pedestrian 39.10 but on going that had deteriorated to a calculated -50.
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