Southfield Jock was quickest, Jaytee Spartacus, Stay Loose and California were the most high profile departures from the second round of the 70th East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth.
2015 EAD runner-up Southfield Jock (Droopys Scolari-Lady Anastasia, Jul 13) went to trap three as a 13-8 second favourite with fastest first round winner Jaytee Spartacus (T1) the 11-8F. Following a decent break, Jock and Bar The Warrior (T5) crossed the split in 5.32 with California (5.34) also well placed. The favourite (5.42) was trapped on the rail with nowhere to go. He remained in a qualifying slot until the run-in. With his race spent, it was left to Southfield Jock to cross the winning line in a fastest of the night, 27.81 (N). Bar The Warrior was three lengths back in second with locally trained All About Class (T4 6-1) taking the third qualifying place.
The Young kennel did not have to wait long for some consolation, courtesy of Ajlo Legalbeagle (Romeo Recruit-Droopys Alanna, May 14) in the second heat. The Young runner (T6 7-2) made a very ordinary exit from traps and was behind Shaneboy Style (T2 4-1) in the early stages. The leader veered outwards on the run-in as Legalbeagle rocketed up the extreme outside. He cleared the first bend and went on to win by just under four lengths in 27.85. Clondoty Alex (T3 4-1) ran on gamely after being given little room early with last year’s EAD winner Do It For Twiggy (T4 3-1) going through in third. Charlie Lister’s 9-4 favourite Stay Loose (T1) was never a contender early, was then crowded and eliminated.
The third qualifier duly brought its consolation for the Lister kennel with Old Joe Golden (Premier Fantasy-Final Gold, Jun 13) though it was an absolute shambles of a race. The Lister runner (T6 7-4f) was the chief beneficiary (5.32 sect) as Bockos Alfie (T4 5-2) and Burgess Tadh (T5 16-1) attempted to swap starting positions within the first ten yards. Alfie had a further coming together with Bubbly Trubo (T1 5-2) at the first bend but the damage was long since done by then. It would finish finish 6-1-4 in a time of 27.95 and the distances four and a bit and a length.
Holdem Rio (Crash-Cornamaddy Maid-Jul 14) had been turned over by 27.78 winner Ballinclare Solo in the first round. They met again and this time it was Heather Dimmock’s brindle (T3 5-2) wh0 led up in a 5.35 sectional from Ballymac Cathal (T6 9-2) who took a whack from Kelva Den (T5) at the bend. The result was virtually over by then with Ballinclare Solo (T4 2-1f) still in last place at the third bend. But he forced his way into third qualifying slot some two and a bit and three lengths adrift of the 27.92 winner.
