Nagtodeath had the last word in the heats of the Sheffield Stadium Puppy at Owlerton on Tuesday as he put the highly promising Barrie Draper puppies in the shade.
Up against the odds-on Glenppadden Rock in the second heat, Elaine Parker’s March 2013 son of Derby winner Taylors Sky and Catunda Polly came with a rattling finish to reel in the favourite and win by half a length in 27.92 for the 480 metres.
Draper had better luck in the opening heat where Glenpadden Lord was all the rage and justified favouritism with a two-length success over Next Weeks News in 28.20, while the third qualifier saw Charlie Lister’s Oneco Melissa get the better of a good tussle with the favourite Renasup Gene by a neck in 28.26.
Racing manager Sam Tweed said: “Glenpadden Lord ran particularly well, albeit he did trap better than he has been doing. But there was a lot of early pace in the final and he sort of lost his place.
“He then pushed his way, very bravely, through on the inside at the third bend. Ideally he would like to be closer to the rail in the final. Barry’s other dog, Rock’ has a better draw though he actually moved off the rail a little bit.
“Nagtodeath has come through the grades and we were hoping to be in our Track Championship team, but he was injured. Ideally I think Elaine would like to see her two dogs (Nagtodeath, Renasup Gene) drawn the opposite way around.
“The best drawn in the final is the six, though it is a very decent race and should be very competitive.”
The draw for next Tuesday’s final is: 1 Glenpadden Rock, 2 Nagtodeath, 3 Oneco Melissa, 4 Renasup Gene, 5 Glenpadden Lord, 6 Next Weeks News (w).
