Droopys Scion (Yeah Man-Droopys Hilda, Nov 13), a litter sister to Pinpoint Maiden winner Droopys Benz, set the standard in the opening round of Yarmouth’s 58th Track Championship.
Jim Daly’s black (T6) , who won two legs of the BAGS Track Championship, showed good early pace (5.48) to lead up from Dairy Rumble (T2) and was never troubled when winning in 27.85 (+20). Head Of Dromin finished third (T3).
Scion had four kennelmates in the fourth heat but all had to follow home the likely favourite for the competition, Lann Jacob (Hondo Black-Swift Rush, Oct 12). Going for an A1 hat-trick, the black wearing the white jacket was led to the third bend by Daly’s Norfolk Dasher (T6 5.28), at which point Jacob hit the front. But he was pursued by a second Daly runner, Droopys Rum (T1) all the way to the winning line. The winner’s time 27.95 (+10) and the distance a length.
The Mullins kennel picked up another heat in another tight finish. This time it was the red jacketed 4-6f Outdoor Rumble (Ace Hi Rumble-Holston River, Jun 13) but he was made to work for his victory after barging his way into second place at the opening turn. Irene Barnard’s 14-1 chance Exiles Brae (T5) was finally reeled in on the run-in for a three quarter length win in 28.25 (+10).
The Barnard kennel had enjoyed their own success earlier in the meeting when the white jacketed British bred Money On My Mind (Coolavanny Bert-Stella Blue, Dec 13) came out the better in a buckle with kennelmate Creepy King (T4). The winning margin was a length and the time, 28.33 (+10).
The night’s tighest finish came in heat three where Erica Samuels’ 12-1 chance Millbank Kola (T5) denied John Mullins the first leg of a potential treble.
Kola (Timor Blue-Millbank Lola, May 13) led up as Mullins’ 4-5f Rorys Way (T6) missed his break but showed great early pace to challenge by the bend. The Mullins runner stretched his advantage going into the third bend but he swung off wide off the last and his stride was shortening as Kola got back on terms and edged ahead by a neck in 28.18 (+10)
The remaining heat went to Ray Pleasants’ versatile veteran Urban Road (Westmead Hawk-Tullig Paula, Jan 12). The red jacketed East Anglian Derby finalist was led by 5-2 shot Big Dee for the early part of the race, but showing great track craft, Urban Road went past on the inside of the leader around the last two bends and then pulled away for a two length win in 28.15.
