Seamus Cahill may not have had much luck at Romford, but his Southfield Jock (8-11f) went quickest in the first round of the 70th East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth.
Southfield Jock’s orange jacketed kennelmate Ballinclare Solo (Scolari Me Daddy-Ballinclare Meg, Nov 13) landed the first leg of a double for Cahill. Running in heat 1, the orange jacketed 7-2 chance beat Harrow Wolf (T4 4-1) by five in 27.78. Holdem Rio (T3 2-1f) finished in third, denying Stay Lucky (T6 7-2) a place in the next round.
Stay Loose (Kinloch Brae-Cornamaddy Tiny, May 13) provided the first leg of a treble for Charlie Lister in heat 2. John Mullins’ Whatugonnado (T1 4-1) was the first to show but Stay Loose (T4 5-4f) soon took control and came home three clear in 28.12. Roxys Lass (T5 10-1) ran on for third with Castell Henry (T2 9-4) taking a tumble.
Second quickest on the night was heat three winner and Monmore Gold Cup winner Jaytee Spartacus (Scolari Me Daddy-Sizzling Gina, Feb 14) in heat 3. Paul Young’s dog (11-10f T1) clocked the fastest sectional on the night (5.32) and came home a length clear of 2015 East Anglian winner Do It For Twiggy (T3 8-1) in 27.69. Bockos Alfie (T2 7-2) was third with Roswell Iceman (T4 3-1) the notable casualty.
The performance of the night came in heat four and Southfield Jock (Droopys Scolari-Lady Anastasia, Mar 13). The 2015 EAD runner-up (T3 8-11F) disputed the early lead with Oakfield Caesar before kicking on for a two and a half length lead over lcoal puppy All About Class (T1 3-1) for a 27.63 heat win. Burgess Tadh (T5 11-2) finished third.
Heat five saw the only local winner on the night Kelva Den (Kinloch Brae-Feed Me Cherrys, Jul 14). The Jim Daly trained Den (T5 6-1) was in contention with the more fancied Quivers Camps (T3 4-1) but shot clear when the latter was KO’d along with Vicarage Champ (T4). It was left to favourite Clondoty Alex (T1 6-4) to run on for second with Ballymac Cathal (T6 9-4) to take third. The winning time – the slowest of the night was 28.14, and the distances, 3l and 2l.
Many eyes were on Irish entry Peregrine Falcon (T1 9-4f) in heat 6 though he would prove to the the only favourite to fail to make it to the second round. The most fiercely competitive of all the heats went to California (Ballymac Vic-Silverhill Tina, Apr 14). The Mark Wallis trained white and blue (T6 5-2) beat Ajlo Legalbeagle (T5 3-1) and Shaneboy Freddie (T2 3-1) with the 1-2-3 determined at the first bend. The distances were a length and three quarters, and three quarters of a length and the winner’s time, 27.96.
Oscar Junior (Droopys Oscar-Droopys Danneel, May 14) was the quickest of Charlie Lister’s trio in heat 7. Fast away, Junior (T3 2-1) took full advantage of Bubbly Turbo’s (T1 Ev.f) early woes to go clear in a 5.39 sectional and he eventually came home with seven lengths to clear over Paul Young’s battle weary Turbo. Bar The Warrior (T4 6-1), picked up third spot by a short head from Saffrons Anna (T2 5-1).
Heat 8 went to East Anglian Challenge winner Old Joe Golden (Premeir Fantasy-Final Gold, Jun 13). There was little between the winner (T6 13-8f) and Shaneboy Style (T1 7-2) throughout but the Lister runner got home by half a length in 27.99. Bubbly Hunter ran on for third with the fancied Clubber Lang (T2 3-1) was the biggest surprise elimination in fifth.
