Romford’s next category one competition, the Golden Sprint, starts in just three weeks’ time – writes Rob Abrey.
The £10,000 to the winner prize traditionally attracts top entrants and this year looks no different. Past winners have included Blonde Snapper who went on to win the derby that same year. With only three weeks to go, connections are preparing for a potential tilt at the 400 metres competition. There are several greyhounds making their Romford debuts tonight in Golden Sprint trial stakes. As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about two of them plus a returning favourite. I have also sought more information on a greyhound making his Romford and six bend debut while I was at it.
Unattached trainer Gavin Holman is taking on the Friday traffic from his Sheffield base to try two of his charges in Golden Sprint trial stakes at Romford over 400 metres for the very first time.
First up at 7.18pm is the aptly named Easy To Gamble. The lightly raced November ’17 whelp is no spring chicken but is showing no signs of slowing down. The son of Crash and Swift Curie won a sprint open at Nottingham over 305 metres on Monday. This year he has been confined to sprint races at Nottingham and from four has finished in the top two places three times. He has run and won over four bends. His two other wins came in 2019 at Sheffield and Monmore over 480 metres. The 400 metres tonight could be ideal for the early paced type. He clearly has the early to hold his own against sprinters which bodes well going into tonight’s race.
Joe, father and assistant trainer to Gavin on him said: “We have had him quite a while. He has had a couple of injuries that kept him out for a while but seem to be getting him back to where he was when a puppy.
“He has the capacity to hit the lids but doesn’t seem to do it at Nottingham. He does have lots of early and middle pace. He ran really well at Nottingham on Monday and is showing signs of getting back to where he was.
“He will relish 400 metres and a tight track. He can do some very fast times over 480 metres but doesn’t quite get it. Trap two is no problem for him. He is a railer but trap two is fine for him.
“If all goes well he will be aimed at the Golden Sprint.”
Skybet are top price 5/1 for him to win first time up at Romford and make it two wins in one week.
Next up for ‘team Holman’ is Atarah King at 7.36pm. Like his kennel mate he has predominately ran in sprint races. From ten races on these shores the January ’19 whelp has had seven over two bends. His three wins have all come at Nottingham over 305 metres. Interestingly the son of Good News and Tullovin Kim won his first round heat of the National Sprint last December beating Loggies Lito and Grays Cup Winner. Loggies Lito who has featured in your favourite read went on to win it and Grays Cup Winner is a former puppy cup winner at Romford back in 2018. 400 metres looks ideal for the pacey sort and if taking to Romford could be a player.
Joe on him said: “He’s a very, very fast dog. People who have seen him know that. He is still very young and has shown at times very nice pace.
“We bought him from Kevin Boon and he thinks he will get four bends comfortably. He has helped us a lot since we got him from him. We have been running him in sprints and thought we would start him over short four bends. 400 metres looks ideal for him right now. He has some tremendous pace and middle pace but his trapping can let him down.
“We trialled him at Monmore over 264 metres and he did a good time first time round. He seems to have ability to run a new track straight away.
“He has trap four and we would prefer him a little wider but you can’t do anything about the draw. Hopefully, all being well in the Golden Sprint he gets wider draws.”
Corals are top price 5/2 for him to show his Golden Sprint potential and win on his Romford debut.
Those who follow the open scene at Romford will know all about Bockos Jon Jo. Trained by Patrick Janssens the August ‘18 whelp has taken to Romford like a duck to water. He has had ten races on these shores with seven at Romford. Of those seven he has won four; an incredible strike rate of 57% around the Essex venue over 400 metres. Tonight the son of Droopys Jet and Moanteen Beauty returns to his favourite hunting ground for the first time since December in a Golden Sprint trial stakes at 8.17pm. If he picks up where he left off he will be a lively contender for the competition next month.
Patrick on him said: “He is a very fast dog. He is desperate for the rails and hopefully will come away running from trap four.
“He just needs to be a little more consistent from the traps. His strength is between bends two to three rather than to the second bend.
“He is a good little dog. Really fast. I took him to Monmore but the slow going didn’t suit him. I think he will get 480 metres in warmer conditions.
“We were thinking about going to Crayford with him but will keep him at Romford for the Golden Sprint. Him and Goldies Hoddle will be our main chances.”
Several companies are offering evens for him to make it five wins from eight races at the Essex venue.
Perrysblueyedboy is not only making his Romford debut tonight but his six bend one as well in a maiden stayers race at 8.38pm. The August ‘19 whelp has had ten races on these shores winning twice. Those two wins came at Central Park over 480 metres in A3 and A2 graded affairs. The longest trip so far the son of Superior Product and Global Liberty has attempted is 500 metres. That was at Towcester and in two races over that distance he finished third and fifth. To win over four bends he clearly has early pace and if able to stay may not be a maiden stayer for long.
Patrick on him said: “He has the same mum as Skilful Sandie. He is a young dog and has had a few opens at Towcester. I took him to Monmore for the puppy cup but the track didn’t really suit him.
“I think he will stay. Time will tell but I do think he will stay. He came from off the pace at Central Park. If I put him over the trip in a solo I think he could do 35.50. He could go quicker which wouldn’t surprise me but he would be around that mark.
“I think he will handle Romford. He can run quite wide and hopefully Romford will keep him in. His running style reminds me of Barricane Carina who was a good dog. She was very wide at Towcester but not at Romford. They are very similar.
“Trap five is not a problem for him. He had run from trap five loads and won from that trap at Central Park.”
Perrysblueyedboy has seemed to caused a difference in opinion with the bookies. With one company he is as short as 5/2 while Skybet are top price 5/1 for him to win over six bends at the first time of asking.
