The Champion Stakes is fast approaching with the first round heats starting in two weeks’ time – writes Rob Abrey.
In preparation for the £10,000 to the winner, category one competition several greyhounds are either making their six bend or Romford debuts tonight. In some cases both. This week in I have focused on five greyhounds running over 575 metres tonight.
Doncaster based Diane Henry like last week is once again braving the Friday night traffic to run three of her charges. Her marathon star Savana Winner as covered last week runs again but it is her other two that are the focus tonight. Both are making their six bend debuts.
First up is Savana Myles in a maiden stayers race over 575 metres at 7.03pm. The son of Tullymurry Act and Express Berry has had eight races on these shores all over four bends winning none.
All eight races were in open races with the furthest to date was last time out over 550 metres at Henlow. The August ’16 whelp appears to want further and 575 metres could be ideal for him at this stage of his career.
Diane on him said: “Myles is a three year old dog and we have had so many problems with him. He can do cracking trials but is very, very clumsy in a race.
“In a first look around a track in a trial he shows he can run. He is not the greatest race dog. He is very inexperienced. He should be alright from trap one at Romford. He has pace but again is not the greatest race dog. For me it is just to watch him race and see how he gets on.”
Skybet make Savana Myles a 10/3 shot to win at the ninth time of asking.
Next up for Diane Henry is Willowdale Shane in another maiden stayers race over 575 metres at 7.49pm and what a race it is. This is not your average maiden. The race has a derby semi-finalist, a Juvenile winner and a Three Steps to Victory finalist in it. The son of Ballymac Eske and Effernogue Diva is not only making his six bend debut tonight but his race one as well on these shores.
The July ’17 whelp has had just two qualifying trials at Nottingham over 305 and 500 metres and has been entered straight into an open race over six bends. He however does have form in Ireland with eight races to his name. He has won over 521 metres at Thurles and 549 metres at Limerick.
Most importantly he has won over 686 metres at Limerick in an open race and appeared to get every metre. His Irish form bodes well going into tonight’s race and if taking to Romford the sole wide seed may not be a maiden stayer for very long.
Diane said: “I wanted a nice little maiden for him but oh my gosh it is a red hot race. He will get 575 metres easy. No problem. He got over 600 metres in Ireland when he was just a puppy. The race is a real test for him and if he takes to Romford the plan is to aim him for the Champion stakes.
“This dog was bought as a stayer and has only just turned two. He is very exciting and is one to follow. His last trial at Nottingham visually impressed me. In his sprint trial he clocked 18.06 and that is a nice time for a stayer.
“575 metres could be perfect for him providing he takes to Romford. I’m looking forward to his run and he should come on for it. Providing he takes to the track he could be a player for the competition. He will stay mid to wide. He will be a big price on Friday but has real potential.”
Skybet make Shane 5/1 to win his first race on these shores.
It is rare for your favourite column to cover two greyhounds in one race, but being the quality of the 7.49pm maiden stayers race over 575 metres, it had to be done. Regular readers of this column may remember reading about Seaglass Phantom before his very first race on these shores way back on Friday 20th July last year. That race was over 400 metres. Trained by Patrick Janssens, he has now for tonight been stepped up over six bends.
The classy son of Droopys Jet and Beanfield Parke over four bends has done well. He reached the East Anglian derby final finishing second last year and won the racing Post Juvenile at Sheffield over 500 metres earlier this year. He has race and trial experience at Romford over 400 and 225 metres and now he has been stepped up to six bends It shouldn’t be long until he sheds his stayers maiden tag.
Patrick on his kennel star said: “I think he will get 575. I think so. He did a 29.48 time at Hove over 515 metres. He should get it. He is a very fast dog, very frustrating. If you get him in front he is an awesome greyhound. When he hits the front he has done some fantastic runs, especially at Hove and Central Park. He won the Juvenile at Sheffield. He is not the best from behind however.
“I think he could go thirty spots faster than Desperado Dan. He can do 35.10; Phantom could be capable of 34.80. I’m not saying he will do that as we will see if he takes to Romford. But if he does he is capable of it. He has been around Romford before and the plan is for the Champion stakes with him in a few weeks.
“For me the race is so good tonight it a race just to watch and enjoy rather than play.”
Coral make Seaglass Phantom 7/4 to win on his six bend debut tonight.
Local raider Emers Jewel like Willowdale Shane makes her six bend and race debut on these shores tonight for trainer Paul Young at 7.17pm in a maiden stayers race. The daughter of Skywalker Puma and Emers Skylark has had trials at Hove over 285 and 490 metres clocking decent times of 16.60 and 28.94 seconds.
The October ’16 whelp has also had trials at Romford over 400 metres clocking very consistent calculated times of 24.34, 24.19 and 24.26 seconds. If she can translate those times over 575 metres she should not be a maiden stayer for long. Like Willowdale Shane she also has experience in Ireland with thirteen races to her name. The last Irish one is the important one as she has won over 686 metres at Clonmel in an open affair. That suggests she will get the trip and is one to keep a close eye on.
Paul on her said: “She is a nice bitch. We have had a few problems; a few setbacks with her but have taken our time. She is a nice prospect.
“She has won over 600 plus metres in Ireland and how far she will stay we don’t know but will see. In time she could be a Golden Jacket bitch for next year at Crayford.
“575 metres is an easy six bends to get compared to other tracks. She has got potential and we are looking forward to seeing her run. She has nice early pace and has done some nice trials. As good as we could have asked of her. She has trap one on Friday and may not want it. She did rail well enough though in her trial on Tuesday.”
Skybet make her a 5/2 poke to win on her race debut over here.
Last year’s puppy cup finalist, Drive on Hunter is back to Romford. This time the son of Fernando Bale and Ballymac Salpa is running over 575 metres for the very first time in a stayers race at 9.41pm. Trained by Kevin Hutton, the December ’16 whelp has shown recently that six bends is where his future lies with an open win at Harlow over 592 metres. Before being stepped up over six bends he was in fine fettle over four bends with a win at Sheffield over 500 metres last month.
He has early pace and has shown that at Romford last year when winning an open over 400 metres, a trip that clearly wasn’t ideal for him. He appears to get the 592 metres at Harlow so 575 metres tonight should not be a problem for the greyhound with proven track experience.
Kevin said: “He is a nice dog. He reached the puppy cup final at Romford last year. 400 metres was always well below his type of trip. To make the final in what was a very strong competition was quite an achievement. He has also won over 400 metres which was good as that was not his trip.
“He should get the trip on Friday at top pace. 575 metres could be perfect for him, it looks ideal. He picked up a nice race at Harlow over 592 metres. It wasn’t the strongest race but he still did it. The plan is to have a crack at the Champion stakes.
“He is a tight railer, the tightest railer we have in our kennels. He has nice early and we hope with that he can cheat the draw [trap three]. He has experience at Romford and will hopefully show a bit of early to cheat his draw.”
Skybet are a standout 12/1 for Drive On Hunter to win tonight.
