I think the Coral Golden Sprint Final is too tough to call but simply having Tiffield Blueboy in the line-up has already brought joy to so many people.
He was bought by Bill and Jenny McColl as a three month old pup from Gary Goulden, who we are involved with via the Energize Kennels.
Bill and Jenny were among the first of the new owners who came into the kennel when Towester opened. They are friends of my parents and they will all be traveling together to Romford for the final.
Blueboy is the best pup to date out of our former open racer Evanta Evita and Billy and Jenny bought him as a deal – I think it was for about £3,000, which included all costs up to racing age.
We don’t rush the pups, and like a lot of ours, Blueboy started in A6 at Henlow and was actually beaten in his first eight races.
But I knew there was some ability in there and that came out when he built up a seven-timer including graded races and his first opens.
Even though he is really a 460 metre type, on my website I suggested that Blueboy looked a decent each-way bet at 33-1 so if he doesn’t win, it would be nice to see him make the first four.
I genuinely think it is a very wide open decider but I make Goldies Hoddle the biggest danger. The dog is primarily a sprinter and seems very well drawn on the inside. If we can follow him round, you never know.
We also have a runner in the British Bred Maiden Final in Saffrons Xpress.
I think Liz Mort at her committee at the Breeders Forum have done a great job is raising sponsorship and I have been actively buying British breds for some time.
We have had a lot of success with British breds over the years including Adageo Bob, Calco Flyer and Jazz Hurricane, to name but three, and Xpress was really bought with the hope he would make a decent grader and then see where it took us.
But he has been a revelation in trials and I took a view, instead of him being qualified into A3/A4 at Henlow, why not let him take his chance in this competition?
Considering it was his first ever race, the first time in a six-runner event, and in front of a decent sized crowd, I thought he was outstanding in the heats and a bit unfortunate not to win.
I think Rab’s bitch (Queen Lilly) looks to have an excellent chance, but there will be plenty more to come from our lad, and I think it has turned out to be a very decent little final.
It was hugely disappointing to have to withdraw Antigua Romeo from Saturday’s Steel City Cup semi finals.
He has damaged a toe, probably in the paddock, and will probably be off for around a month. It isn’t a serious injury, right on the end of one of the least important toes, in terms of affecting his ability to run, but we will have to leave time for it to callus.
I had suggested to a few people that I thought he was worth a small investment at a big price in the Derby ante post market, but you would have to say he is very doubtful. He will probably be over the injury by the time the Derby starts, but we would be struggling to get him fit enough and trial back in time.
It is such a shame. I said in this column last year, that he had great potential and he has fully lived up to expectations.
We bought some young dogs into the kennel in recent months, and like Tiffield Blueboy, I expect some of them to be slow burners and develop into decent open racers in time.
I think a lot of people underestimate the calibre of graded racing at Henlow. For example, take a bitch like Playbook (Droopys Roddick-Bolt Along, Feb 18). She qualified in A9 at Henlow, had been running in A5, and clocked 23.83 in her first open at Romford. It was a heat of a maiden, and although she was beaten in the final, she went quicker than some of the Golden Sprint runners. She is a little cracker, our ‘pocket rocket’ at just over 24 kilos and as a Feb ’18 whelp, I think she is open to more improvement. (Engaged at Romford tonight)
Look out too for her brother School Days and Calco Dare (both at Romford tonight). I think they both have decent potential to progress into decent open racers.
Looking at the kennel in general, the Regency is very much in our sights. Aayamza Royale looks a hugely exciting stayer in the making, and will be joined by Passing Stranger (both won Thursday night) plus of course Antigua Fire.
Bumblebee Bullet is now out of season and will need a few races to get back to her best, but I honestly feed she has the potential to be a truly great marathon star in the coming year.
