Evanta Fantasy, one day short of her fourth birthday, recorded the fastest time in the four qualifiers of the Ladbrokes Guys And Dolls at Crayford on Saturday night.
The opening heat for the males went to one of Crayford’s Track Championship team Piemans Blast (Larkhill Jo-Tyrur Fergie, Sep 13) who was never headed after rocketing clear from trap four
Heat two, the of the bitch’s qualifiers saw another all-the-way victory for a local runner, Quivers Cindy (Kinlock Brae-Quivers Point, Aug 13). Barry O’Sullivan’s black jacketed 8-1 chance slipped the field to win in 23.29, though there was plenty to admire in the run of beaten 5-4 favourite Stonepark Mo (T1) who ran on for second.
Poole entry Swift Merlot (Kinloch Brae-Zaras Fantasy, Aug 13) went to traps with a 23.13 win on his card last time out and although he was unable to repeat the time, it was another impressive performance from the 7-4 favourite who ran from trap three. Merlot narrowly prevailed in a titanic battle with the host track’s top 380 performer Brick Mansions (T6) who had won six of his last seven over course and distance.
Merlot’s half sister Evanta Fantasy (Vans Escalade-Zaras Fantasy, Sep 12) was just hours from true veteran status (she was born on the 18th) when recording the fastest time of the night. But the white jacketed 2-5f was made to work for her victory by Special Trixi (T6 8-1) who was running two bends less than her optimum. The winner clocked 23.16.
(*The fastest time of the year for course and distance was recorded at the all-graded meeting earlier in the day when Tiddly Wink clocked 22.99).
The semi final draw went as follows and resulted in Evanta Fantasy being quoted at 7-2 to win out by the sponsors. They then bet 5-1 Swift Merlot, 11-2 Piemans Blast, 6-1 Brick Mansions, Headford Joe
