By Rob Abrey
The Golden Sprint over 400 metres starts in two weeks and with the Steve Simmons standard trophy starting tonight and concluding next Friday, many trainers are using it as a warm up to the big event. The £500 to the winner two round competition is the perfect event to gauge a greyhound before the Golden Sprint starts and to see the credentials of greyhounds yet to run at the track.
Tonight’s race card also features a very interesting puppy from a famous bitch and as ever your favourite scribe has found out more.
On paper what does a greyhound need to win the Golden Sprint at Romford over 400 metres? Early pace? Stay the trip? Consistency?
I would consider the above a must for any greyhound to win the category one Golden Sprint. Russanda Rubin, trained by Kinsley’s James Hayton appears to tick those boxes and could be a very lively outsider for the competition starting tonight and the Golden Sprint in two weeks. The April ’14 whelp has won open races at Nottingham over 305 metres against sprinters and has won over 500 metres at Towcester.
More importantly the son of Ballymac Vic and Droopys Peaches late last year won the British Bred Derby at Towcester unbeaten. Winning any competition unbeaten is not an easy task and should not be overlooked.
Trainer James Hayton on Russanda Rubin said: “We are aiming him for the Golden Sprint and will see how he goes on Friday.
“He hasn’t run around Romford before but runs Kinsley really well so should be okay. If he does run the track as we think he can he could go a fair way in the Golden Sprint.
“He had a months rest over January which I like to do with my greyhounds over the bad weather and he is really well in himself.”
For tonight Bet365 make him 6/1 to win his race and sponsors Coral have him at 50/1 to win the Golden Sprint. If he runs well tonight which I suspect he will, the price of 50/1 won’t be available tomorrow morning.
James Hayton also has Viking Jimmy running tonight in the Steve Simmons standard trophy it what can be described as a hot heat. The son of Ballymac Vic and Starwood Bound is up against several of the more fancied greyhounds to win the competition and if producing a good run which he is capable of could have a shot of causing an upset tonight. Like his kennel mate, Viking Jimmy has won over sprint trips and 480 metres so potentially has the tools to do well at Romford.
Trainer Hayton on him said: “It’s a really tough, tough race. He has his trap [trap 6] which is a bonus.
“Tonight is a chance to take a look at the track and like Rubin should run Romford. He has a ton of early pace and hope he will be out and gone but we shall see.
“As I always say if you’re not in it you can’t win it.”
Moving away form potential Golden Sprint winners, Dean Childs has a really interesting puppy running tonight that could well be a future winner of category one competitions.
For those who have been following the open race scene for several years will recognise the name of Droopys Loner, the dam of tonight’s runner for Dean Childs. For those who don’t remember her then check out her race career. She was Derby semi finalist, Oaks finalist on several occasions, Golden sprint finalist and Arc finalist to name a few of her achievements.
Tonight she is represented by Droopy Justine. If she has inherited her consistency and early pace she could be a bit special.
Tonight Droppys Justine runs at Romford for her first ever race and should give a good account for herself.
Trainer Dean Childs on her said: “We are not aiming her for the Golden Sprint as she is too young. She is only an August whelp. We are looking at maidens for her and then puppy races and potentially the Monmore puppy cup.
“She looks really good and we have high hopes for her, her litter brother won at Monmore recently in an open race so all are going well.
“She did a good trial time on Tuesday of 24.23 which is good for a first look around. She has had lots of trials so should be ready.”
