Thinkingofdarcy (Royal Impact-Fabulous Carmen, Oct 14) returned to the scene of his last triumph and set about winning his second consecutive British Bred St.Leger at CENTRAL PARK on Wednesday.
Five months after landing the £4,000 decider for Andy Griffiths, the ex Hall Green grader returned to the track under the care of John Mullins and romped up by more than seven lengths in 39.99 (-45). He returned at 1-2f. His previous victory over course and distance was in 39.52 (N). Whoneeds Charity was second with Windy Santos a couple of lengths back in the third qualifying place.
The other qualifier went to the veteran Romany Rouge (Head Bound-Milliesupreme, May 13). Richard Devenish’s 3-1 chance beate Mullins’ Meadow by a short head with Inch Forward back in third (3/4l).
Newcastle grader Billys Ruby (Razldazl George-Coolavanny Mist, Sep 14) overturned the two Charlie Lister trained hotpots to land the £500 450m final at DONCASTER on Wednesday.
Harry Burton’s brindle (T 4-1), who had been turned over by Lister’s Haydeezflyer in the heats (27.35 FOY), reversed that form with a swing of seven and three quarter lengths with a two length win in 27.45.
The meeting also featured two heats of a 483m maiden. Quickest of the pair was Barrie Draper’s Soars Above (Premier Fantasy-Rossa Baby, Sep 14) with a 29.42 run. The other qualifier went to Pelaw Grange’s Dinnington Lady (Pinpoint Maxi-Lady Script, Jun 15) in time of 29.71.
On the same night at YARMOUTH, all talk was of trialist Tankers Lough (Superior Product-Spout Road, Aug 15). The Colin Finch trained pup clocked a sensational 27.66 (+30) in his second qualifying trial at the track.
(By means of comparison, the fastest time of the year is 27.81 and the 2016 East Anglian Derby final was won in 27.79)
It was Lough’s second qualifier at the track having clocked an almost-as-impressive 16.58 for the sprint (FOY 16.44). The 30 kilo brindle had won his only race at Waterford in 28.89 in May and despite running a ‘decent’ sales trial at Henlow in 28.35 was sold as the top lot at a bargain 2,800 guineas.
