Romford’s major standard distance competition of the year, the Coral Golden Sprint, reaches its conclusion on Friday evening. As usual, the decider will be contested by a high class ‘Cat One’ field and here they are . . . .
* The halfway times are a new feature – digitally compiled by Mark Pierrepont – and recorded to a set point roughly miday along the backstraight.
It’s not just about speed! Droopys Good (T1) about to about to force his way into a qualifying position going into the first bend in the semi finals.
Course and distance specialist Droopys Good did well to qualify from a first round heat where he was never seen with a winner’s chance but ran well to bravely overcome first bend buffeting and qualify behind two future finalists. His ‘halfway sectional’ was 12.75.
In the semi finals, he trapped on terms with the leaders but was outpaced to the first bend. Once again he showed great guts to hold his own at the turn, but the winner was long gone.
His 12.86 to halfway was four lengths slower than the eventual winner with whom he is similarly priced at 8-1. That looks a little on the short side for a 23.70-23.80 type, even with the advantage of a clear run as the only railer.
Hawkfield Mia (T5) leads up in the first round heat.
The likely 9-4 favourite Hawkfield Mia had a 10 race losing sequence when she left Ireland but has won more than half her races since arriving with Patrick. She has 3.54, 3.55 and 3.56 sectionals at Romford and clocked the fastest ‘halfway’ time in the first round, a flying 12.40.
The semis were a completely different story. The 13-8f was left on her heels at the boxes and was always playing catch-up by her faster breaking rival on her inside. She was five lengths down on her halfway sectional (12.80), of which 27 spots were lost between the traps and winning line, and she never looked like recovering.
Though not draw dependent, Mia might just be the worst drawn in a race that overall has worked out pretty well. It is perhaps worth noting that her two fastest split times have come from trap five. She has nine career races from the blue box but only two wins.
Ayle Blake (T4) challenging My Vision (T3) at the sectional in his semi final. Signet Goofy is in T3.
25-1 outsider Ayle Blake comes into the final with a 14 race losing sequence on his card, his last win being a 24.16 over c&d last September. Overall he has three wins from 18 races at Romford with a best of 24.12. He has open winning form over 480 metres and he needed some of that stamina to overcome a hefty first bend bump in the opening round. An incident reflected in his 13.01 ‘halfway’ split.
He enjoyed a decent buckle with Signet Goofy, being only marginally outpaced by the winner going to the first bend in the semi finals where he kept a pretty straight course after moving in slightly at the boxes. With a different draw, Norahmac’s runner might have seized the advantage when the pair turned left for the first time. But that was the difference as they crossed the halfway mark where Blake’s 12.66 was 11 spots inferior.
Blake is far from a 400 metre specialist and would need some luck in running to win this, but certainly deserves his place in the final.
Gougane Jet (T3) leads around the first bend from Hawkfield Mia in the semi finals
The best two-bender in training with some eyewatering stats to back it up. Gougane Jet suffered a surprise defeat in the opening round when Hawkfield Mia left him for dead at the boxes – he was a yard behind after the first ten. He was catching her as they hit the bend, but had to ease his stride and was 18 spots behind at the halfway (12.58) and nearly four lengths adrift at the line.
The track was slower for the semis when both Jet and Mia were drawn one trap further in. They broke level with Jet squeezing a neck advantage at the sectional and seizing the rail at the turn where his rival ran off. Jet clocked 12.67 to halfway, leading by 13 spots, and that margin barely changed to the winning line.
All traps come alike to Jet, and his record in black is particularly good. To date – you might argue though that the Perry Barr sprint record holder hasn’t been anywhere near his best at Romford. But we all know about his trainer’s record in finals and if the 5-2 (ish) chance were to produce a 23.50 run, no one could be too surprised.
Signet Goofy (T5) taking the shorter route at the first bend with Highfield May (T6) on his outside in a fabulous first round battle between the pair
If you look up the definition of coursing term ‘buckle’ the Oxford English Dictionary states ‘the race between Signet Goofy and Highfield May in the Golden Sprint first round’ They were separated by four spots at the split, six spots at the halfway (Goofy -12.56), and four spots at the line.
Goofy broke ‘so so’ in the semi when moved in two boxes and had to rely on superior ealry pace to lead at the turn. Interestingly, his ‘halfway’ of 12.55 was one spot quicker than his previous outing.
The 11-4 chance will be quite comfortable with the draw, he runs a straight line (he ran from five in every round of the Derby). But any box, any track, any distance . . . Goofy will always give you a run.
That’s why she is a (W)! Hawkfield May clear off the last bend in her semi final
The find of the competition, 21 month old Highfield May was no respector of opinions when going toe-to toe-with a Cat One winner in the opening round (12.62 halfway).
She was even more impressive in the semi finals. Bang! Gone! Her 12.53 was the fastest of all the ‘halfways’ – two spots quicker than her old foe Goofy (in a different heat), and four lengths quicker than Droopys Good.
As the only ‘W’, she was guaranteed her box but might have preferred a slower breaker on her inside. In the semis she was clear and cut the bend. That might not be so simple if Goofy comes away in his best style. Nevertheless fabulous value at 8-1 and what a prospect.
