An eventful first round of the PGR Champion Stakes at Romford saw the track record broken plus a disqualification for one of the apparent qualifiers.
The highlight of the evening came in the third heat which featured the two Derek Knight trained runners Hollow Man and Candolim Monsoon who were inseparable in the betting. But it was the former who extended his winning sequence to seven when chipping one spot off the 575m clock previously held by Warzone Tom.
Just four spots outside the 225m record after a 15.21 sectional, the black son of Pat C Sabbath and Leezie Lindsay had led his kennemate by 14 spots, which was reduced to 12 when they crossed the winning line a circuit later.
The draw for the semi finals is still to be made following the requirement for ‘clarification’ following the disqualification of puppy Savana Lioness in the last heat.
Semi draw below
MAGLASS BRAVE Champion Stakes heat 1 34.97 Photo: © Steve Nash
DRIVE ON LAD winning heat 2 Photo: © Steve Nash
HOLLOW MAN leads on the first circuit (13.21 split) of his track record breaking run, knocking one spot off Warzone Tom’s mark with 34.54. Photo: © Steve Nash
WARZONE TOM (t5), whose 575m track record had been lowered by one spot earlier in the evening, short heads Bedrock Wilma (t6) in the final stride of Champion Stakes heat 5. Photo: © Steve Nash
BALLINTEE NOSHOW shrugs off the attentions of the disqualified Savana Lioness (t1 right) to win heat 6. Photo: © Steve Nash
