Domino Storm (5-2) gave Mark Wallis back to back Oaks victories after leading from trap to line in the ECC Timber Oaks Final over 470 metres at Belle Vue writes Jason Craddock.
The daughter of Makeshift flew out of the boxes and went round the opening turn in front of kennelmate Evanta Evita.
The evens favourite Tyrur Caroline didn’t trap in her best fashion and was shuffled back after first bend trouble.
Domino Storm went on to beat Evanta Evita by just over three lengths in 27.59sec giving the trainer, who scored last year with Cashen Maureen, a 1-2. Last year’s runner-up Bromwich Sue was third.
Domino Storm is part of a great litter which includes Scottish Derby winner Swift Hoffman and Golden Sprint winner You Never Listen.
Wallis said afterwards: “I spent all those years trying to win the Oaks so it is amazing to then win two on the bounce.
“I’m so pleased for the staff and our supporters. Trap three is the lid pinging trap here and I wasn’t disappointed when she got it and when she blasted out and it was all over.
“Both Domino Storm and Evanta Evita have had long years but performed really well on the whole.
“We’ve had a great end to the year with this and Adageo Bob winning the Essex Vase at Romford last year.
“Domino Storm is so well I’ve put her in the Olympic at Hove, which is a track she runs really well.”
Millwards Whitey made his early pace count to land the final of the ECC Laurels over 460 metres.
Market rival On Alert led in the early stages but Millwards Whitey passed him near the turn and On Alert was shuffled back.
Taranis Bolt followed Millwards Whitey through but could never quite get to the Dean Childs’ trained leader who pulled away again on the run in to score by almost two lengths in 27.87sec.
Childs said: “He did everything right in the preliminaries and I was good to see him finish it off in style.
“As a young dog he mixed with the best but lost his way and something was obviously wrong so we rested him and he’s come back to his best.”
The dog is owned by John White and executors of the late Mitch Millward.
John said: “This is his fifth final in 24 races and Mitch always said we were not a one dog team and he was right.”
Trumpers Mofara outstayed her opponents in the ECC Timber Marathon over 878 metres.
Geraldine Kovac’s runner led at the penultimate turn and went on to beat Loop The Loop by almost three lengths in 54.93sec.
Kovac said: “She checked up at the sough at Nottingham when beaten by Loop The Loop but she reversed the form tonight.
“Now we knows he stays we’ll try and keep her to marathon races.”
Kim Billingham had a double in the opening two races with Whittle Eagle and Chaotic Dolly.
Whittle Eagle (7-4f) turned the EC Timber Midi over 590 metres into a procession when making all to slam Aayamzamodel by seven and a half lengths in 35.13sec.
Chaotic Dolly (8-11f) led from the opening turn in the ECC Timber Ladies Stakes over 470 metres and held off the persistent challenge of Ballydoyle Time by a neck in 27.89sec.
Billingham said afterwards: “Whittle Eagle is a good dog over four bends and we knew he would stay 590 metres okay as he has run over 630 metres at Monmore.
“He had a great draw on the fence which was worth a few lengths and did it well. We’ll now take him to Henlow for a 550 metre competition.
“Chaotic Dolly is a good bitch but she got a terrible draw in six in the semi-finals and couldn’t recover.”
Liosgarbh Charl was another winning favourite in the ECC Timer Stayers Stakes over 670 metres.
Gary Carmichael’s runner flew out and made all to beat Sosaidhs Blue by just under two lengths in 40.87sec.
Carmichael said afterwards: “He missed his break last time at Monmore but when he leads like he did tonight he’s a good dog. We’ll save him for the Newcastle Festival in February.”
Tyrur Supermac stopped the run of favourites when taking the ECC Timber Standard over 470 metres.
Charlie Lister’s runner, a 5-2 chance, flew out of the boxes and pulled clear to slam kennelmate Stay Loose by almost eight lengths in 27.35sec.
Lister said afterwards: “He was unlucky last week when knocked out of the Laurels semi-finals but showed what he can do tonight.”
Elwick Glory was another trap one winner of the ECC Timber Midi (Division One) when going well clear from the second turn to slam Tyrur Dicky by eight and a half lengths in 35.08sec.
His trainer Colin Reddan said afterwards: “She had a few niggling injuries so we put her back over four bends to get her fitness back and stepped her up to win this race like she did at the same meeting last year.”
