Barnfield Panda clocked the joint second fastest time of the year in the second round of the Texacloth Puppy Derby over 525 yards at Newbridge on Friday.
Kieran Lynch’s Taylors Sky dog was soon clear and went on to beat Water Fern by two lengths in 28.44sec.
Water Fern’s connections Peter Comerford and Tony Moore gained consolation by landing the two other heats.
Bittersweet, part of the same Zero Ten Allen Harbour was soon clear in the opening qualifier and held Ballyelan Sonoma by a length in 28.85sec.
Another litter-mate Black Alder led and came again in a scrappy second eliminator to beat Southern Oaks runner-up Badminton Rossa by half a length in 28.94sec.
Draw for Friday’s semi-finals:
First semi:
1 Danesrath Beauty
2 Barnfield Panda
3 Burgess Import
4 Bittersweet
5 Badminton Rossa
6 Bay Bush Giant
Second Semi:
1 Barnish Ed
2 Water Fern
3 Ballyelan Somona
4 Black Alder
5 Must Be Messy
6 Skywalker Rory
