It’s Friday night and that can only mean one thing: open racing at Romford writes Rob Abrey. As usual the Essex track have put on a twelve race card for our enjoyment starting from 6.09pm. Of those twelve races, eleven are opens with the conclusion of two finals among them. A maiden stayers competition over 575 metres also starts tonight and yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about one greyhound from each of the three heats.
Moaning Sabba goes in the opening heat at 7.36pm for Harlow trainer Darren Whitton.
The May ’18 whelp has had all of his races over two and four bends. Most of his races have been at home track Harlow over 415 metres where he has won nine, all in graded affairs. Interestingly the son of Pat C Sabbath and Cabra Fifi has only had one race away from Harlow and he won it. That was at Central Park over 480 metres last Sunday. That race was his first look at Central park and his longest trip to date. Tonight, he attempts six bends and Romford for the first time. It certainly bodes well he can take to tracks first time up.
Darren on him said: “He’ll get the trip from off the front. Off the front he should get it. I’ll be disappointed if he leads and gets caught. It’s all about him leading.
“He got 480 metres well. He is a strong running dog early on. At Central Park he showed nice early pace to the bend.
“He is well in himself and is better than his form shows. He has trap three, that is no problem for him, it’s where he wants to be.”
Darren has four runners at Romford tonight and on who he thinks could go well he said: “I do like Moaning Sabba’s chances and Moaning Shakira in the maiden has a chance. She doesn’t miss it at Harlow. She should love it at Romford. She looks man made for Romford. Whether she will show her best this week or next we will see.”
Local handler David Mullins certainly knows what it takes to win at Romford over six bends and tonight gives his charge Troy Suzieeq her Romford debut in heat two at 7.56pm.
The March ’19 whelp is not only making her Romford debut but her race one on these shores as well. The daughter of Kinloch Brae and Redzer Ruby does have race experience in Ireland with three races at Tralee over 480 metres where she won one of them. She goes straight over six bends after two trials at Romford over 400 metres and one at Central Park over 480 metres. She improved her time in her second trial at Romford trial and that improvement will be expected to continue.
David on her said: “575 metres will be like a sprint for her! She will get it, were quite confident about that. 575 metres could possibly be a bit short for her. We intend to build her up to longer trips all being well. A stepping stone before we try her over marathon trips.
“She is the litter sister of Redzer Renae who stays all day long. She has trap one and were happy with that for her first race. Hopefully, she doesn’t find much traffic late on.”
On his other runners David said: “Troy Zico has come back really well from a serious injury and has chances. Were quite hopefully about Waste House Izzy in her maiden stayers heat.”
Teaboy Bruno for Nathan Hunt makes his six bend debut in heat three at 8.17pm. The May ’19 whelp after nineteen races over four bends is being stepped up.
Sixteen of those races were at Romford over 400 metres where the son of Skywalker Puma and Drumcrow Blossom won three of them with one in A1 graded company. Recently he won his first round heat of the Northern puppy derby at Newcastle over 480 metres before being eliminated in the semi-finals. He handled the step up to a stiff four bend trip well and tonight will show if he can do it over six. His proven form over four bends at Romford could prove essential.
Nathan on him said: “I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t stay to be honest. He has been running on really strong to the pick-up at Romford. He looks like he will get the distance. He ran on well to the pick-up at Newcastle after 480 metres. He is out of Skywalker Puma and he throws strong running dogs.
“He won his first round heat at Newcastle and has a nice bit of early. He was a bit unlucky in his semi-final. He tries hard and is a nice dog.
“He trialled back at Romford over 400 metres on Tuesday and did 24.37. That’s not a bad blow out and will hopefully bring him on. For a few runs we will keep him over 575 metres and give him a chance to show what he can do.
“He has trap five and that is okay for him. I would have preferred trap six but five is fine. If he does stay as we expect him to do, he could be a nice 575 metres dog.”
On his other runners Nathan said: “Droopys Flight has a good draw and if he comes away has a chance. I have two in the 400 metres maiden final. Both are well drawn and have chances as well.”
Regular readers of this column may have had a nice 3/1 winner last week courtesy of Signature Dancer and Michelle Brown. Michelle put him up from her other runners who were not the focus of your favourite read. She suggested he could go well and he did indeed. The July ’17 whelp duly obliged in his A2 graded race to take the spoils by 1 ¼ length.
It pays to follow this column.
