Golden Sprint surprises on Friday night as Bombay Buck goes quickest
There was open racing at Romford last night where the semis of the Coral Golden Sprint were the feature of the card. There was also action at Sunderland.
Buck goes quickest for Young in the Golden Sprint semis
Paul Young won two of the three Coral Golden Sprint semis as a pair of odds on favourites were sent out on a night that proved to be tricky for punters in the main. Slingshot Poppy and Bockos Buster both exited the competition which leaves an open looking final.
Bombay Buck was the fastest of the three semi-final scorers, A 3.64 split around the outside set him on his way to victory as he scored from the striped jacket for the first time in his career at the seventh attempt. His slick exit allowed him to move left from the boxes and come home by more than six lengths ahead of Rose Draper's Swift Hostile who took the runner-up spot.
Young had won the opening semi with Yahoo Mareike. She has been a model of consistency over this track and trip through her career but she is far from a one trick pony, making the final of he Empress Stakes at Towcester last September to show her versatility. Again, it was early pace that won the day, leading up Da Don inside her, with Mark Russell's charge picking up the second qualifying spot.
It was Sehnsa Amigo who won the other semi-final for Bradley Stowe. Once more it was a case of whoever trapped best won the race as he led up and maintained the gallop. We believe that he is only greyhound that Stowe has in training at present which makes a Cat One final appearance even more special. Jacktavern Don claimed the final spot in the decider for Maxine Locke.
Underground Jim provided Young with another winner on the undercard. He has only raced at Hove since arriving at Burton Lodge, but the switch to Romford was no issue for him, out and gone over 575m to land a 35.44 success.
Martyn Wiley picked up a double on the evening with Alana The Second picking up a six-bend contest. She led home her shorter priced kennelmate Unmistakable who had led her up early but she got past him off the second bend and kept rolling.
Bombay Trend got into a sprint contest as a reserve for Wiley but took full advantage of his opportunity to pick up a smart 13.51 win. He's won three of his last six starts now after winning four of his first 38 overall, including 1/4 in Ireland.
There was a couple of hugely impressive performance on the clock for the 575m led by Aayamza Legend for John Mullins. He produced a spectacular 13.23 split (13.17 is the sprint track record) on his way to a 34.95. He produced 35.09 back in November for his other win for Mullins.
Nathan Hunt's Inca Lewie also dipped under the 35-second barrier to run his rivals into the ground from the front. He made the semis of the Summer Stayers last year, finishing third that day behind New Destiny and Gary The Arb.
An eight-bend contest saw Princess Matilda continue her excellent recent run of form for Gemma Evans. She has the two quickest times of the year so far over 750m to add to her Central Park track record from a fortnight back.
Rockmount Kellie has looked a sharp recruit for Craig Morris since she has been dropped back sprinting. She has won five of her last six starts, including a perfect 3/3 over two bends. They have come at Sheffield, Yarmouth and now Romford so she is clearly a very adaptable bitch.
The other contest on the card went to Maxine Locke's Skidroe Lady. She has now won two of her four starts for Locke after landing a Tralee race on her only effort in Ireland.
Jackson lands two of three at Sunderland
The three opens at Sunderland on Friday night were all won in very similar times to one another, with two of them being won by Carl Jackson and the other by Ted Soppitt.
Quickest of the night was Jackson's Crafty Regalo. He showed a good attitude after being headed by Cloncunny Black. to get himself back to the front again and pick up his fifth win in 19 starts for the kennel, with four of those coming over this track and trip.
Jackson was quick to double up with Ballymac Deboss who bounced back after a rough ride at Star Pelaw when last in action. A semi-finalist in the Classic last November, he has seven open race wins at the track now.
Sunnyside Gurkha landed the other open on the card for Ted Soppitt. His win came by the narrowest margin over Glenn Foot's Travel Safe. He was another to make the Classic semis, well suited to the 450m here.
