SATURDAY ROUND UP - UPDATED - Greyhound Star | News from the Greyhound Industry

What a weekend!

We are already underway in a big weekend of action with the start of three £20K-to-winner events sponsored by Premier Greyhound Racing, with the Bresbet Steel City Cup to follow on Sunday.

Things kicked off at Romford last night with the opening round of the Champion Stakes. (see below)

Tonight at Perry Barr, we feature the opening round of the English Oaks for which the quadruple Category One winner Queen Joni heads the ante post market:

4/1 Queen Joni, 9/2, Druids Say Go, 6/1 Avongate Venus, 14/1 Distant Cara, 16/1 Jet Stream Angel, 18/1 Coppice Ella, 20/1 Icemans Girl, Untold Ruble, 25/1 Chakra, Leighas Dream, 28/1 Bang On Edith, 33/1 Fabulous Terra, Queen Shakira, 40/1 Droopys Eunice, Front Alice, Lamorna Lexi, Southfield Poppy, 50/1 Allowdale Cazoo, Ballymac Zari, Bockos Sapphire, Highview Jasman, 50/1 Paradise Sky, Queen Dusty, Rioja Maxi, Starshinestunner, 66/1 Catunda Layla, Majella, Signet Tess, Toddys Thunder, Untold Florin, Untold Shah, 100/1 Chamberlain Kate, Jacintas Lady, Southfield Petal, 125/1 March On Mini, 150/1 Devilgate Suzi, Droopys Glam, Loli Pop Jamstyx, Swift Regina, 200/1 Ballyhealy Star, Ballymac Cline, Delicate Lass, Glengar Bridie, Melbourne Emma, Mystical Mango, Too Wright, 225/1 Dreamin Folly, 250/1 All The Glory

How will it all map out? Check out the views of Jonathan Hobbs and Joe Conneely or read the hands-on preview from Perry Barr Racing Manager Martin Seal.

Meanwhile at Central Park. . . .

Back in March, King Memphis was beaten into second place by ‘cousin’ Queen Joni in the final of the ARC Kent Plate. With Joni previously engaged at Perry Barr, the beaten English Derby favourite heads the ante post betting for the PGR Kent Derby.

5/2 King Memphis, 8/1 El Tornillo, 10/1 Cinderella Tell, Droopys Doughnut, Havana Top Note, Newinn Benni, 14/1 Keylogues Runner, 16/1 King Sydney, Romeo Steel, 18/1 Tintreach Trueno, Uncle Freddie, 20/1 Cooliogold, Newinn Syd, Romeo Kingpin, 33/1 Russmur Roddick, 40/1 Crossfield Enzo, 50/1 Asbo Lenny, Droopys Manowar, 66/1 Breaghmore Paudy, Brynoffa Bambi, Farmway Shady, 80/1 Droopys Display, Farneys Joe, King Stevens, Monleek Peru, 100/1 Atomic Crimes, Beach Bull, Coolavanny Sissy, Harriestown Lee, Rosstemple Davey, Tintreach Tulip, 125/1 No More Biscuits, So Its Milo, Twist Of Cain, 200/1 Skirk Allcash, 1000/1 Outdoor Cracker

Here are the thoughts of Jonathan Hobbs and Joe Conneely on the big race. Also, our thanks to Ladbrokes for supplying prices for the first round heats.

DON’T FORGET – The Gone To The Dogs podcast with Patrick Janssens – link at the top of the page!

JOE’S Saturday Bets

***7.36 Perry Barr – Rioja Maxi (7/4)
**8.19 Central Park – Uncle Freddie (5/2)
*9.02 Perry Barr – Queen Dusty (5/2)

Two more category one events get underway this evening with the start of the PGR Oaks at Perry Barr and the PGR Kent Derby at Central Park.

The Nap of the evening is Rioja Maxi in heat three of the oaks at 7.36pm. Although she was beat over five lengths by Distant Cara last week, she hadn’t been seen in competitive action since the middle of May and shown on plenty of speed to the three quarter mark to suggest mounds of improvement are expected and if she leads she can put in a big run.

The next best for the evening is trap four Uncle Freddie in heat three of the Kent Derby at 8.19pm. He ran a cracker behind King Memphis in a trial stake last week and if Uncle Freddie can get first run on Havana Top Note and give chase to Droopys Manowar I would fancy him to catch three and go onto win.

Other selections across both cards include Tintreach Trueno in heat four of the Kent Derby at 8.36pm, Cooliogold in heat six of the Kent Derby at 9.11pm, Distant Cara in heat seven of the Oaks at Perry Barr at 8.44pm and Queen Dusty who looks drawn to go well in the final Oaks heat at 9.02pm

Is it her Destiny?

Romford crowd for heats of the PGR Champion Stakes and Coral Silver Standard Photo: © Steve Nash

Ante post favourite New Destiny performed like a good thing should with an emphatic first round win in the PGR Champion Stakes at Romford on Friday night.

The 575m track record holder was simply imperious with a front running display over the six bend course. The winning margin was seven and a half lengths and although her 34.75 winning time was 22 spot outside her track record – with going allowance taken into account the margin was only seven spots. She was also 29 spots quicker than the next fastest winner, Aayamza Sydney.

The pair meet in an intriguing, if somewhat weighted semi final. The six heat winners have been drawn in two of the three semis.

Mark Wallis was delighted with the performances of both New Destiny and Fabulous Sonique – just not with the draws.

“We’ve got really tough draws for them both in the semis and even Saffrons Dash in the Silver Standard, but are delighted with the way they’ve all run,” he said.

New Destiny kicked off this year’s Champion Stakes in the best possible style with an easily fastest-of-the-night in the opening heat, racing away for a 34.75 win from Noirs News.

Fabulous Sonique then followed up with a back-to-Romford 35.63 win in heat two after riding a bump at the first bend – but now has trap five in her semi!

Earlier, the same kennel’s Saffrons Dash rolled back the years by winning his heat of the Coral Silver Standard in 23.96 – initiating a hat-trick on the night for the champion trainer.

Six heats of both the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes and Coral Silver Standard graced the card at London Road and, remember, the finals will be live on the second Gone To Dogs – Live! broadcast in a fortnight’s time. Make a date in your diaries – Friday, October 18.

Back to Friday night and Wallis, in particular, was thrilled with Saffrons Dash in heat three of the Coral Silver Standard.

“Saffrons Dash is our last dog from the pre-MWD Partnership and is in our old Mark Wallis Greyhounds Racing Club still,” he said, adding: “He was almost retired this year but was so well we decided to carry on running him – and he’s running really well.

“He also gets on well with Ballymac Taylor – they’re kennelled together – which was another decision to keep him going. He’s got veteran status now but he’s running fabulous and enjoys his racing.”

New Destiny, already a winner of the Coral Coronation Cup earlier this year over C&D, remains a hot favourite for the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes – despite a trap draw in the semis.

“She took a little while to get used to Romford but seems to navigate it well now and it was a great start for her in the Champion Stakes. I’ve always said she’d be tough to beat if the draws were kind to her – I’m not sure that’s the case in the semis. However she’s in great heart and hopefully can make it through to what should be a great night a week later – hopefully with Sonique too.

“She has a great record at Romford and just missed the break when last there but then flew round Towcester, so we always knew she was in cracking heart, too. It looks a shocking draw for her in the semis though – the only one we’ve got in his box is Ballymac Johnjo as a wide runner.”

Aayamza Sydney, runner-up in this year’s Essex Vase, set out his stall to go one better with a strong-running and runaway win in heat three – John Mullins’s dog posted a quick 35.04. Kennelmate Swift Depot later dominated early in heat six to land Mullins a Champion Stakes double.

Other Champion Stakes heats went to Belinda Green’s Gary The Arb (35.27) and Seamus Cahill’s Never Say No (35.35).