Crow Show
A ‘Fastest of Round’ win for defending champion Coonough Crow and a Savana treble for Diane Henry were the highlights of the opening round of the Arena Racing Company Grand Prix at Sunderland on Friday night.
Coonough Crow was a 9/4 chance in the 2023 decider and rated no higher than 8/1 to defend her title but showed her love of the North East circuit where she won for the third time in four outings in 39.26 for the 640m. Her PB is 39.15.
Next quickest was John Flaherty’s Greenwell Ange with a 39.34 run. The British bred blue had sub27.00 450m form as a pup and gave Ballymac Johnjo a start and a beating in heat four.
Tom Heilbron just missed out with Darbys Delight last year. He has two through to the semis including heat six winner Innfield Charm. In a heat where ante post favourite Aayamza Sydney led, and was surprisingly caught, the Queen Mother Cup finalist got home in 39.50.
Queen Mother Cup winner Savana Heross was the quickest of Diane Henry’s treble. On his first look at the Bolden circuit, he ran on well for a useful first sighter. Kennelmate Savana Jazz is running way below her optimum trip, but the bitch who beat Ballymac Taylor over 900m last time out was good enough to win heat three in 39.91.
Also priced at 25/1 ante post, Savana Shay got the night underway with a 39.99 early paced win in the opening heat. He too should improve from a first visit.
