A fantastic year for Towcester concluded as they retained their BAGS/SIS Track Championship title with narrow margin of victory totally in character of the most fiercely contested event so far.
The result certainly looked unlikely when Romford’s highly flagged ace card Sneezys Martin landed the youngsters event at 5-2 in an impress 28.79 for 480m. Newcastle’s Headford Sky finished second.
That was kind of expected, but a quick double for the Essex boys certainly wasn’t as 4-1 chance Sonny Da Boy completed a double with a 28.68 win over Nottingham’s Hinbos Lad in second.
So too legs gone and 7-1 chances Romford led the field on 20 points, twice the tally of Sheffield in second. Peterborough had managed just two points.
The third race, the ‘Bitches B’ saw a thrilling finish with many in the stadium feeling that Towcester’s 2-1 favourite Garryglass Pixie had got up. But the print showed that Nottingham’s 4-1 chance Windswept Elm, the puppy described by racing manager Jason Smith as the track’s ‘dark horse’ – had held on by a short head in 28.79.
Nottingham’s great white hope – the 6-4 chance Almas Radar showed his darker side with a laclustre display in the ‘Stayers B’. In the early stages it appeared that Sheffield’s proclaimed ‘dark horse’ Vera Vang was looking an inspired selection, but she was run down by Peterborough’s Princess Freya who returned at 7-1 and clocked 40.71 for the 660m. (“I would expect her to get points” was the underwhelming view of racing manager Martin Race in his pre-race analysis)
After four legs the scores read: 26 Romford, 20 Nottingham, 19 Sheffield, 17 Newcastle, 15 Peterborough and Towcester
Milesian Mecca was rated a 7-2 chance to land the standard by Newcastle’s Ian Walton. He actually returned at 5-1 and just edged a thriller with Towcester’s Far Bank Frank by a neck in 28.93.
Geela Gaga was tipped to do the business in the sprint by the Sheffield grader Sam Tweed and the 2-1 chance became the competition’s only outright winning favourite. The time, 16.47 was well within his scope.
So – six down and the Essex boys were still giving it large 38 Romford, 32 Sheffield, 29 Newcastle, 25 Towcester, 22 Nottingham & Peterborough
‘Lynchpin’ Mac’s On Storm has been the star of the event so far having never been beaten. The punters sent him to trap three at 9-2 in the ‘Dogs A’ and this is what he did.
The champs were on a roll and in the Bitch’s A, they were due to be represented by She Truth, who was then replaced by Steponitstacey (8-1). Some reserve!The winning time was 28.78 and the distance four and three quarters
Despite the rally, Romford were still ahead by the minimum margin on 46 points from Towcester with Sheffield still in the hunt on 40.
It has been a great year for Mark Wallis’ former assistant trainer Patrick Janssens and it was he who effectively sealed the deal by taking the top division of the stayers event. Slick Strauss – described by RM Chris Page as “our other ace” and duly trumped his great rival and joint favourite Geelo Bullet in what turned out to be a two-runner buckle.
Romford’s Bornamassa Tom had finished in fourth which meant the event went to the final leg where Towcester were represented by Ballymac Shirley with Romford’s hopes resting with Ajlo Legalbeagle. In fact, it would be dominated by Peterborough’s Romford Puppy Cup winner Kooga Klammer in an exceptional 28.57 for the 480m. Although Shirley sadly broke down, Legalbeagl’s third place would not be enough to secure the winning points.
Totally in tune with the whole event, the first three finished within three points of each other, and second place was determined by countback, but in the week that they were confirmed as the Derby venue it was Towcester’s title.
56 Towcester, 54 Romford (countback 2 winners), 54 Sheffield (1 winner), 44 Peterborough, 40 Newcastle, 32 Nottingham
