King Elvis went quickest – Geelo Monty was beaten – Apache Kid, a brilliant last to first and a double for Stuart Buckland. The four major talking points of Wednesday’s 71st British Bred Produce Stakes at Swindon.
Despite the continuing decline in British breeding numbers, the Produce Stakes highlighted a number of exciting home breds who will make their mark in the wider open race scene in the rest of the year and beyond.
Heat 1 saw a second victory for David Mullins’ pup Brookside Alice (Bonamassa Rocks-Blue Glenard, Oct 15). Her first round 28.82 victory showed she could dominate from the front. This time she had to come from last place and she did it with style. . . .
Heat 2 would produce the biggest sutprise of the night when another favourite, Geelo Monty, made a complete hash of the start. The Sheffield runner, who had won six of his previous eight races, relied on pace over track craft to qualify but he had given too much ground to Lets Be Buddys (Me Buddy-Ballymac Pet, Aug 15) and Matt Dartnall’s 8-1 chance needed no second invitation in 29.18, the slowest time of the night.
Heat 3 featured 29.16 first round winner Supreme Rioja (Take The Crown-Ballymac Mighty, Aug 15) ho once again did everything right but was pursued by Richard Devenish’s litter sister Thameside Bound and Princes Royal who turned the event into a three quarter length tricast in a decent 28.88.
Heat 4 featured the youngest runner in the event – by 16 days – King Elvis (Tullymurry Act-Skate On, Oct 15) who had won six of his nine races to date, and was seeking a four-timer. Liz McNair’s coloured dog could hardly have been more impressive when winning in 28.62. He accelerated into an early lead off a decent sectional, and although fading late, was a length quicker than his previous outing.
Heat 5 was an event where bare race form cannot begin to describe the race. It featured one of the leading fancies for the competition Apache Time (Head Bound-Story Time, Mar 15) who would lead home littermate Prime Time in 28.84. But you really do need to watch this one. . . .
Heat 6 featured Derby quarter finalist Carn Brea taking on the runner-up to Swift Elvis last time out, Supreme Merlot (Take The Crown-Ballymac Mighty, Aug 15). It turned out to be a cracking contest won by a very decent pup and with the first four home all breaking 29.00.
