Finally on a star-studded card it was the chance of the stayers to showcase their talents in the RPGTV Stayers Trophy writes Mark Pierrpeont.
The first heat went the way of Sharon Thompson’s Sparta Master. He pinged out from his trap 3 berth, taking a middle to wide course throughout and made all in 4200. Salacres Pippy turned second for Peter Harnden and though she lost this position rounding the third and fourth bends when passed by Upton Legend when also receiving a bump from that rival, Pippy soon regained her composure and stayed on well to eventually claim a comfortable enough second and final qualifying place albeit some 5 3/4 lengths behind the winner.
Heat 2 went the way of one of the sport’s biggest emerging superstars in the shape of Hayley Keightley’s Roxholme Kristof.
There aren’t too many greyhounds these days who leave you awestruck at what you’re witnessing but it was a priviege to have been one of the few at the track to witness one of the best six bend performances I’ve ever seen live.
In running I personally thoughts heading around the final two turns that he might just come back to his rivals a little, instead Kristoff seemed to find another gear and he pulled further and further clear, hitting the line in a hand timed 41.36 was some run, however having run the race through my computer software his time actually came out at 41.26.
Make no mistake had this run been on a summer Monday evening the 2013 track record of 41.06 set by Fabulous Shanty would have been smashed to bits and we’d have seen a greyhound breaking the 41 second barrier for the first time in history.
No greyhound is unbeatable but it is going to take some performance from any greyhound to come from behind him in this kind of form.
As assistant trainer Craig Morris quipped shortly after the race, it wasn’t a bad performance from a greyhound with not enough four bend Derby pace who doesn’t stay either. Zascandil qualified in second for Kevin Boon and though he was beaten some 12 3/4 lengths he still run with credit.
All eyes were on Jim Daly’s Blue Tick George. A greyhound stepping up in trip for the first time the debate all week long had been will he or won’t he stay. He popped out nicely from his preferred trap 1 draw but had to settle for second place in the early stages as Graham Holland’s Lenson Blinder set the pace upfront.
Though George showed pace along the back straight to get himself into contention the race still looked to be heading the way of Blinder when he appeared to lose sight of the hare as they came off the fourth turn. George took advantage, nipped through on the inside and ran out a game but somewhat fortunate winner in 42.30 with Hayley Keightley’s Ballydoyle Bee 2 length’s further back. We’ve more to learn about George over this kind of trip going forward.
