Rising Brandy (Taylors Sky-Bdminton Girl, Apr 16) produced one of the most amazing performances produced by a novice in many years when going unbeaten through the 2018 Ladbrokes Puppy Derby.
Matt Dartnall’s black – who came into the event completely unraced, UK and Ireland – destroyed his field after trapping in front and moving to middle on the run-up. Favourite Droopys Verve was slightly hampered and briefly eased out of second place by Brinkleys Poet, as they went to the bend, before Verve retook second place.
In an interview last week, Matt Dartnall suggested “if Brandy has a pitch at the second bend . . “. He didn’t so much have a pitch, as the competition in the bag.
He duly pulled away to win unchallenged in 27.82 for the 480m thus equalling the best ever winning time in the event achieved by Ballymac Pires in 2005 (with Brandy’s grandsire Westmead Hawk back in third place).
Monmore racing manager Tony Williamson said: “It was a fantastic run and a really impressive time. I don’t know whether the race has ever been won by an unraced pup before, but I cannot believe that it would have been. It wasn’t as though he had his best trap, he looks a genuine middle runner, so in every way it was a top class performance.
Mark Wallis – whose Brinkleys Twirl was last, nevertheless sent out a winning treble over two, four and six bends courtesy of Kilcree Diamond (6-1), Boylesports Duke (5-2) and Rubys Rascal (5-4f)
RISING BRANDY cruises home in the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby Final from Droopys Verve (t4).Photo: © Steve Nash
