Diego Flight kept his 100% record in this year’s William Hill St Leger when scoring an impressive victory in Friday’s semi-finals over 687 metres at Wimbledon writes Jason Craddock.
Liz McNair’s 4-6 shot went to the first turn just in front of Swansalona Diva and by virtue of his inside draw went clear.
Swansalona Diva got trouble on the second turn and was never really travelling well afterwards.
Diego Flight eventually went on to beat his litter brother Ferryforth Fran by six and a half lengths in 41.28sec. Paul Young’s Teejayspowerhawk plugged on for third.
Fizzypop Buddy, backed heavily throughout the day, landed the second qualifier.
June Harvey’s 7-4 shot flew out of the boxes and led to the second turn where last year’s winner Roxholme Dream took the lead. She went three lengths clear but her stride started to shorten on the run-in and Fizzypop Buddy came through to score by a length in 41.80sec.
Kent St Leger winner Droopys Tamera ran on well to grab a place in next week’s final.
Draw for Tuesday’s final:
1 Teejayspowerhawk
2 Roxholme Dream (m)
3 Fizzypop Buddy (m)
4 Diego Flight (m)
5 Droopys Tamera (w)
6 Ferryforth Fran (w)
Last year’s winning trainer Pat Buckley will be double handed in this year’s final of the RFS Puppy Derby when his Droopys Roddick and Droopys Nine gave him a 1-2 in the semi-finals at Wimbledon on Friday.
Droopys Nine, the Enniscorthy Future Champion Stake winner went four lengths clear down the back straight but Droopys Roddick, eating up the ground from halfway, came through strongly to score by three lengths in 28.57sec.
Paul Young will also be double handed in the final when the sponsor’s runner Jaytee Spartacus led home Millwards Mates in the last qualifier.
Millwards Mates, the dog bought for the late Mitch Millward by his friends, led from the start and cut across at the first turn but he was followed through by his kennelmate Jaytee Spartacus, who proved a length and a half too strong and recorded 28.81sec.
Ballymac Ramsey justified favouritism in the opening heat.
Barrie Draper’s 4-6 shot went clear from the first turn and eventually beat the running on Pretty Lane by almost two lengths in 28.60sec.
Draw for Tuesday’s final:
1 Droopys Roddick
2 Droopys Nine
3 Pretty Lane
4 Ballymac Ramsey
5 Jaytee Spartacus (m)
6 Millwards Mates (m)
