The Essex Vase concluded last week with the brilliant front running display of winner Antigua Romeo. That doesn’t mean the action is any less with nine opens on show from the twelve race card.
Tonight the Essex venue have put on a maiden stayers competition over 575 metres with three heats starting from 7.18pm. As ever there are greyhounds making their six bend debuts and yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about one from each heat.
Local handler Michelle Brown knows what it takes to win at Romford and tonight tries two of her charges over six bends for the first time.
First up in heat one of the Romford Friday night 500 maiden stayers at 7.18pm is Slippy Scarlett (7-1). The June ‘19 whelp after six races runs over 575 metres for the first time. She has had five races in open company at Romford and Towcester where she failed to win. Her only win to date came on her debut last November at Henlow over 460 metres in an A10 graded affair. In trials over 400 metres the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Slippy Maska has clocked good times of 24.29 and 24.16. In her three races over that distance she found trouble every time. Longer trips may be her future as she clearly has pace and may not be a maiden stayer for long.
Michelle on her said: “We hope she stays. She stayed 500 metres at Towcester well. Her mother was a stayer and the others in the litter are staying as well with them all stepping up. She is very fast and has clocked 24.16 but has lost her confidence at the first bend. She has started to ease at the first bend. Against six bend dogs she has a chance to get clear with her pace. She has been flying to the pick-up.
“She goes past dogs fine but has just lost a bit of confidence at the first bend. She has trap three. I would prefer her in one because of her confidence issues but hopefully she can lead.”
Lemming Fly (7-1) goes in heat two at 7.36pm for ‘team Brown’. Like his kennel mate the May ‘19 whelp has won one race from six starts. That win came last time out over 400 metres at Romford where he won an A1 graded race in 24.30 after finding trouble at the 3/4 mark and fourth bend. The son of Kinloch Brae and Slippy Articfire steps up over six bends for the first time tonight. The most he has run over is 500 metres at Nottingham. He looks like he needs longer trips and it may not be long before he adds to his sole win.
Michelle on him said: “He was really impressive last time out at Romford. We didn’t expect him to win but he did at 9/1. He rode the bumps well. He is a little dog but is quite mature which is why we feel he is ready for longer trips.
“He definitely needs further. It looks like he could stay. He was ten / twelve lengths clear at the pick-up last race. His litter brother [Lemming Dina] is running over 750 metres in the last on Friday.
“Hopefully trap three won’t be a problem for him. He is a bang railer. He scrapes the paint in his races! He is really brave and hopefully can get on the rail when he can.”
On all her runners on Friday Michelle said: “Fly’s sister is running in the last in a marathon and should get it. We are looking forward to seeing how Scarlet gets on over six bends as well.”
Easy Eyes (10-1) for trainer David Mullins goes in heat three at 7.56pm. The October ‘18 whelp steps up for the first time tonight after nine races over four bends. From those nine races the daughter of Cloran Paddy and Droopys Costa has won twice.
Those two wins came at Romford over 400 metres in an A2 graded affair and at Central Park over 480 metres in an open race. To win those races she clearly has early pace and if able to stay should not be a maiden stayer for long.
David on her said: “I believe she will stay. She is built to be a stayer. Her breeding suggests she will.
“The only thing against her is she hadn’t quite come to terms with the starting traps at Romford. She could be better from the 575 traps on the other side.
“Piemans Tom in one has been over 575 metres before but I would be disappointed if she didn’t pick him up if she turned handy. He is a good dog and racing against him and Wee Sydney will be a good benchmark for her staying credentials.
“Last month at Central Park over 500 metres she clocked a 4.15 sectional. That is up there with the top dogs. She can do it from the traps and hopefully she takes to the 575 ones.
“She is drawn in trap four. That is good for her. She wants the middle. She rails at the bends but is a middle runner.”
On his other dogs David said: “I have two running in heat two. Piemans Lynx in two does stay. Jeds Boy hasn’t quite come to terms with Romford but has a lot to offer.”
