Billericay Blue was the star of the session and 1-8f Droopys Cruiser was chinned. They were the two main headlines from the opening round of the 2020 Cearnsport Springbok at Central Park.
The first heat had looked at the mercy of Jim Reynolds (T4) after he took an early lead. But the litter brother to Golden Jacket favourite Antigua Fire made a horlix of the fourth hurdle where Forest Capri (T5 4-5f) seized the initiative and Jelly Flood (11-10) was brought down. Barry O’Sullivan’s Capri finished five and a half clear of Julius Hemery (T1 20-1) with Geelo Big Heart (T6 20-1) a further five adrift. The winner’s time was 30.12 for the 480m hurdle course. All heats were rated at -40.
The second heat went to the increasingly impressive Billericay Blue (T2 5-4). Jim Reynolds runner showed great fluency in his third hurdle race with a ‘never headed’ fastest time of the day, 29.68. He was followed home by Normsland Flyer (T4 6-1) and Burgess Doc (T5 8-11f), the distances half, and three and a half.
The third heat also produced another tight finish which went to Bellinda Green’s Bockos Rory (T3 4-5f). The prolific flat winner showed good middle pace but then just held on, ‘on the nod’ from Droopys Shark (T1 4-1) with Madabout James (T6 9-4) in third. The winner’s time was 30.26 and the distances, a head and three quarters of a length.
The final heat saw the appearance of ante post favourite Droopys Cruiser (T2 1-8f). The dog with a calculated 29.15 on his card over course and distance seemed to be cruising to victory until the fourth hurdle and could finish no better than second behind David Mullins’ Rough Star (T1 11-2). The winner clocked 30.45, the winning distance was a length, and Paddington (T6 8-1) was a short head back in third.
Droopys Cruiser remains the 5-2 favourite to win out followed by 7-2 Billericay Blue, 9-2 Burgess Doc, 7-1 Forest Capri 14-1 bar.
