The bet365 Empress Stakes starts today

The bitches Category One begins this afternoon at Towcester.

The money at the head of the market has come for Phil Milner’s Avongate Venus. Given her record of eight wins in nine UK starts, that is hardly surprising. She owns some of the top times both over Towcester’s 500m and Doncaster’s 483m this year and looks rock solid as the ante post favourite. She runs in heat two at 2.49.

Closest to her in the betting are New Destiny and Queen Georgia. That pair have been plying their trade over further, dropping back to four bends for this competition. They might need a touch of luck in running but the latter won her heat and semi of the Three Steps over 480 and 500m. Heat five at 5.03 and heat three at 3.49 respectively, will see the pair in action.

Arc Angel of the North runner-up Leighas Dream headlines heat four at 4.07. She ran Avongate Venus to a length at Doncaster on August 10 so she should be a leading contender if she can back up a very smart 29.07 first look at this track.

The opening heat at 2.33 sees Nathan Hunt’s Icemans Girl in action. She made the semi-final stage of the Ladbrokes Gold Cup at Monmore after winning her heat. She faces Baggios Intent who has won three in a row at Swindon for Frank Bryce.

Fabulous Terra is favourite for the final heat at 5.21 for Patrick Janssens. A Puppy Oaks Finalist in 2023 over the same course and distance, she has not quite been at that level so far in 2024 but would be a big player if she rediscovered that level of form.

Sunday’s other open racing

Sheffield and Crayford also have open races on the slate today.

Just two opens at Sheffield this afternoon. Acomb Johnny is favourite for the first over 480m. He is looking to add to his 27.74 win over the same track and trip last Sunday for Kevin Ferguson. The other is a 660 maiden stayers final where Barrie Draper’s Dixies Majestic looks to back up her 39.59 heat win.

There are a pair of £750 finals at Crayford this evening. The first is a 380m maiden where Burkos Dew Drop is yet to taste defeat in this country, a perfect 3/3 since joining Theresa Dornan. She also won two of her four starts at Galway, bidding to keep her unbeaten UK record intact at 7.18.

Laughil Jess is in action in the other over 540m at 7.49. She was beaten by Princess Athena in the fastest heat last week. Ricky Holloway had an exceptional haul last Sunday and he fields a strong team headed by Time To Talk in the last.

Callaway Knegare wins spectacular Time Juvenile Derby

“What an engine, what a star!”

That was the call from Ian Fortune last night as Callaway Knegare produced a stunning run to land the final of the Time Juvenile Derby at Shelbourne. A 27.96 run from behind after having to check at the second bend demonstrated the sheer quality that Owen McKenna’s son of Droopys Sydney possesses.

He is a top priced 8/1 to win the Boylesports Irish Derby in November, the outright favourite in front of Bockos Diamond. Strong over the 525y trip, he should improve for the slight step up to 550y. One of the most fascinating angles heading into the Derby will be just how close to Pestana’s 28.99 clock can he get?

It was a gallant effort from Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Briar in third. He had the early gears to take on the favourite and led him until they swung for home. He just found himself behind a pair of stronger stayers but his early pace is a huge weapon for his future.

Splitting the pair was the strong running Innfield Destiny. A half-brother to New Destiny and Coonough Crow amongst others, he shapes as if he will have six bends as his ultimate aim.

Saturday open racing review

Doncaster, Monmore and Perry Barr all had opens last night.

Trial stakes for the upcoming Birmingham Cup and St Leger filled half the Perry Barr card. No Better Feelin signed off in his final race as a puppy with a 480m win for Chris Fereday, a 28.22 effort. That time was matched by Aghaburren Beau for Brian Thompson while local favourite Darley Diglake won the other in 28.29 for Robert Hall.

Haka Carlo went fastest over 710m for Jason Heath, producing a 42.69 run. Lively Lauren took full advantage of a perfect draw with a 43.08 win for Matt Dartnall while Fabulous Dyna scored for Laurence Tuffin in 43.49.

While Bellmore Cricket didn’t provide a clocking to trouble his best, he was still far too good in the 450m Standard Final at Doncaster. Once he got to the front he was never going to be caught again, picking up a third course and distance win in August for Barry Denby.

Three heats of a sprint competition headlined the Monmore action. The two ‘big guns’ made it through to the final next Saturday. Cree Jo Jo was the quickest heat winner for Richie Taberner in 15.26. William Russell’s Magical Bluebear (15.62) and Brian Thompson’s Werners Me Name (15.63) were the other heat winners.

Crafty Shivoo retires

The 2023 Empress Stakes winner is off to the paddocks. 

Her win in the Empress Stakes last year will live long in the memory after finding trouble everywhere she went. In general, Towcester was a happy hunting ground for her, winning 11 of her 12 races at the Northamptonshire circuit. Sadly for connections, the one she didn’t win was her Derby quarter-final when missing out on a spot in the semis by a head in a messy contest.

The winner of the Irish Oaks in 2023, she was victorious in 21 of her 35 career starts. They included a 28.59 Towcester win as well as a 27.97 Monmore triumph. Her pups will be highly anticipated when the time comes for them to hit the track, with the hope they will have their dam’s early gears.

Banks on the move

Graham Banks is returning to Crayford later this week where he will once again become deputy racing manager.

Currently racing manager at Doncaster, Banks will oversee his last meeting at the South Yorkshire venue on Tuesday and has enjoyed his time at the track.

He said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time at Doncaster. The running surface is one of the best in the country and, having graded for over 20 years at tight tracks such as Catford and Crayford, it was nice to experience grading at a much bigger track.

“It’s also been a pleasure to deal with a new set of trainers, not just locally but with those involved in the open races regularly staged at Doncaster now.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to return to Crayford as myself and my partner Vanessa both enjoy the area, but we were both offered roles that suited the pair of us and we decided to head back down south.”

Stats

  • Newinn Luna – 4.04 Sheffield – 5/6 at A3 level.
  • Smurfever – 4.53 Hove – 6/9 from trap two.

Opens

Sunday: Crayford
Wednesday: Yarmouth