There must be one or two supposed shrewd judges holding their heads in their hands after watching the first two rounds of the William Hill Derby.
Peter Cronin’s Salonika has breezed through the opening exchanges in the £250,000-to-the-winner competition … after being taken off the bench unsold at the British Combined Greyhound Sales auction at Wimbledon at the beginning of last month.
The dog, who had finished runner-up to Global Chariot in his trial, clocking 29.23, failed to attract a bid and remained with Cronin, who produced him at Plough Lane again to win his first round heat in 29.18 for the 480 metres and the dog struck again in the third heat of the second round, holding Glenpadden Rock by a neck in 28.46.
