A ‘fastest of year’ for Velvet Blaze and a treble for Phil Simmonds were the two highlights of Swindon’s Wednesday open race card.
A second round casualty in last year’s Juvenile Derby at Harolds Cross, Velvet Blaze (Kinloch Brae-Droopys Snowdrop, Oct 14) went to traps at 2-1 for an Arc Trialstake following two previously unsuccessful visits to the track. But he trapped a length quicker and crossed the winning line with three lengths to spare over Tommys Approach in 28.74 (-10).
It was a good night for the kennel with 6-1 shot Forest Melody (Forest Simon-Forest Rhythm, Jun 14) turning over the short priced Brinkleys King in a 509m open.
It was an even better night for Romford’s Phil Simmonds who entered five runners and went home with three winners and a second.
First up was the 7-2 rated sprinter Courts Ad Peter (Droopys Scolari-Pony Imp, Apr 15) who bolted up in 16.46. Beaten Produce Stakes favourite Castell Henry (Kinloch Brae-Tyrur Alice, Apr 14) landed his Arc Trialstake in 29.20 (-10) and Newlawn Simon (Definate Opinion-Blacknomilk, Dec 13) completed the 40-1 treble with a nine length win in the 685m open.
The kennel’s Newlawn Peter was forced to play second best in the night’s other Arc sighter which went to Astute Missile (Kinloch Brae-China Doll, Aug 14) in 28.93
The Golden Jacket semi finalist clocked 41.92 (-15), which on calculated time was only 14 spots slower than Meadow’s ‘fastest of 2016’
A reminder that the Swindon Arc gets underway on March 11 and will coincide with a 509m competition from the semi final stage.
