The semi-finals of the Coral Romford Puppy Cup take place tonight with the first one at 7.36pm writes Rob Abrey.
Regular readers of this column will know all about five puppies still in the showpiece category one competition as covered by yours truly in recent weeks.
Away from the £10,000 to the winner competition the Essex track have put on nine other open races for our enjoyment. With the Champion Stakes starting next month over 575 metres, there are several greyhounds stepping up in trip to see how they fair. Yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about one from each of the three heats of the Romford Friday night maiden stayers.
Sapphire Brae is making her 575 metres debut in heat one at 8.38pm for local handler Jean Liles. The October ’19 whelp has had all of her twenty-two races at home track Romford over 400 metres winning four times. One of those wins came last time out in A5 graded company showing she is in fine fettle. The daughter of Kinlock Brae and Heathlawn Robin had a recent trial over 500 metres at Nottingham and now goes even further.
Colin Creighton, partner and assistant trainer to Jean on her said: “I took her to Nottingham and she got beat by 6 ¼ lengths to Wee Sydney over 500 metres. Wee Sydney is in top form and is capable of 35.40’s around Romford.
“I think she will get the trip. Actually, she will definitely get the trip. She is a bitch that needs to be in front. She likes to get her own way and can down tools if she doesn’t.
“She is a different dog in front but if she gets behind doesn’t seem as keen. Hopefully she pings and leads and stretches them out. Her mum was a stayer.
“It is her third race back from lameness and she is fully fit. She won her last race. She has trap five but say she is more middle. Traps three or four is what she wants but we will see.”
On their other runners Colin said: “Wee Sydney is in a hot heat but she is in very good form. She has trap six and see pings from that box. It will take a good dog to come from behind her.”
Diamond Lisa is making his six bend and Romford race debut for local handler Paul Young in heat two at 8.54pm. Although with Paul the March ’19 whelp has had all of his ten races away from home track Romford. The son of Scolari Me and Diamond Star has raced at Monmore, Towcester and Yarmouth winning once. That win came at Towcester over 500 metres on his way to reaching the KAB Maiden Derby final. Coincidently that final was won by Thorn Falcon who went on to win the English Greyhound Derby. He has track experience with two previous trials over C&D and recently had a sprint trial over 225 metres clocking a good time of 13.81 so he has traps experience as well. If he is able to get the 575 metres tonight, he may not be a maiden stayer for very long.
Paul on him said: “He gives the impression he will stay. The race is a nice introduction for him over six bends and a winnable one.
“We are looking forward to it. He does need the rails but has decent early and will hopefully clear the local dog in trap one. The draw [trap two] won’t hurt him. There is plenty of pace on the outside but it’s not the hardest of introductions. We are expecting a big run from him.
“He gives the impression he stays and if he does, he could be a nice dog for the Champion Stakes next month. That’s the aim.”
“He did a decent sprint time recently and now has experience from the traps.”
On his other runners who he thinks could go well, Paul said: “Droopys Say in heat three is another that gives the impression he stays. He is well drawn and has plenty of pace. He is another dog going forward.”
After four races at Crayford, Seals Legend is not only running at Romford for the first time but for Michelle Brown as well. The April ‘19 whelp was with Crayford trainer Marcus Smith before switching to Michelle. The son of Pat C Sabbath and Lemon Debbie makes his Romford debut in heat three of the maiden stayers at 9.12pm after three trials over 400 metres. His last two trials of 24.37 and 24.34 along with splits of 3.83 and 3.88 showed he has early pace and consistency. At Crayford he has run over 540 metres and 714 metres which bodes well going into tonight’s race. In his 714 metres race in an E1 graded affair he finished second by only 1 ¾ lengths. He clearly stays and his first win on these shores may not be far away.
Michelle on him said: “He has come to us as Marcus [Smith] didn’t have any other open racers in his kennels at the moment and the owner wanted to go open racing with him, especially at Romford.
“His 400 metres trials were good so we thought we would throw him over 575 metres in a maiden. After doing those times we thought we would try our luck over 575 metres. He has run further at Crayford so should get it.
“He had a niggle but have got him right. His trials were very consistent and he is a lovely calm natured dog, the make up of a good dog.
“He rails lovely around Romford and looks a trap one or two dog. We are still learning about him but trap two on Friday should be fine for him.
“The Champion Stakes is a thought but it is a big step from a maiden to a Champion Stakes but we will see. You never know.”
On her other runner, Faithful Frankie Michelle said: “He is a good dog with lots of early and should go better than last week. It is a tough maiden though.”
