Team GB may not be winning any Gold medals at the Beijing Winter Olympics but there is plenty of Gold opportunities tonight at Romford. As ever the Essex track have put on a bevy of open races for our enjoyment. They have put on ten opens amongst their thirteen race card. There are several greyhounds making their Romford race debuts and stepping up in trip for the first time and in some cases both. Yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about three of them to help find a Gold winner.
Unattached trainer Gordon Baker races two of his charges at Romford for the first time at Romford tonight.
First up for the Oxford based trainer is Superior Boss. Not only is the September ‘19 whelp making his Romford race debut but his six bend one as well. In a maiden stayers race over six bends at 6.58pm the son of Greenwell Hulk and Torchbearer will be looking to shed his maiden stayers tag at the first time of asking. Tonight, is his first race away from Swindon after forty six races over 476 metres there.
At Swindon he won thirteen times starting in A9 company to two wins in A2 affiars. He is the only wide side seed in the race and if able to stay could be a player. He has had one trial at Romford over 400 metres and will be expected to improve after that look.
Gordon in him said: “575 metres at Romford is not the hardest trip to get. He is a good four bend dog and might just get it.
“He has early but can come from off the back. He doesn’t have to lead but being at Romford we would like him to. We trialled him over 400 metres and he didn’t go brilliant. He felt his way around and we expect him to go better.
“He is a good genuine dog and doesn’t have to lead. He tries his heart out and hopefully he will get the trip. We are happy with the draw. He is a wide runner and generally gets his trap. We are hopeful for Friday.”
He is generally available at 4/1 to win over six bends at the first time of asking.
Next up for ‘team Baker’ is Zari Mike in a maidens only affair over 400 metres at 9.12pm. While in the charge of William Russell at Perry Barr the November ’19 whelp won five times over 480 metres
Starting with an A6 victory to a top grade A1 win. The son of Droopys Jet and Zari Frankie is now in the capable care of Gordon and races in Essex for the first time tonight. He has had one spin over C&D clocking a very good calculated time of 24.17. He will be expected to improve on that and may not be a maiden competitor for long.
Gordon on him said: “I got him from Thurles sales where he led and got caught but looked like he had something. He started off in A6 at Perry Barr with my friend [William Russell]. In an open at Perry Barr he ran against Trumps Benefit who is very good and only got beat by ¾ of a length after leading.
“In his trial he did a decent run and a decent time. The trip will suit him as he looks a typical Romford dog. His litter sister is Zari Rosie who won the Maiden competition recently with Paul [Burr]. She loves Romford.
“If he breaks it will take a lot to beat him. He has a local dog inside that breaks well, he can’t make any mistakes with her on his inside. He has trap two and that is fine. He can come out of any box, traps one to three and even four.
“Both have had a bit of time off over Christmas while I had some health issues and both will improve for a few runs.”
Ladbrokes are top price 5/2 for the brother of Zari Rosie to prove he can win at Romford as well.
Local handler Maxine Locke knows what it takes to win at Romford over six bends and tonight tries her charge Droopys Garden over 575 metres for the first time at 8.17pm in a maiden stayers race. The June ’19 whelp has had twelve races on these shores all at Romford over 400 metres winning five times.
Those wins came in A4, A3, A2 and A1 graded affairs. To win in top grade against natural four bend dogs bodes well going over six bends for the first time. The daughter of Laughill Bolt and Droopys Sylvia clearly has early and if replicating her last race where she clocked an impressive, calculated time of 23.98 she will be a hand full for the others to reel in.
Maxine on her said: “She looks like she stays. We have been looking to step her up for a while but had a few setbacks. She is ready to go now. 575 metres was always the plan for her. Her whole litter stays.
“She ran really well last week and trapped really well. We’re hoping her four bend pace will get her in front so we can see what she can do.
“She does look really strong so we’re hopeful for her. She has trap five and is ideally a middle runner with three being her trap. Being out in five shouldn’t be a problem though.”
Corals and Ladbrokes are offering 3/1 for the local to win over six bends at the very first attempt.
Regular readers of this column may have had a nice 3/1 winner last week courtesy of Fire Paper. Trained by Bernie Doyle the July ‘19 whelp gave the others the slip from the trap to hold on to win by half a length in a winning time of 35.90. Last week Bernie on her said “…. She has passed dogs to the pick-up but ideally will be at the front early and stretch them out. Catch me if you can.”
She did lead and they couldn’t catch her. It pays to follow this column.
