Kent Derby could be next for Gold Cup hero Dane

Locke delighted with Dane

They say patience is a virtue and that certainly proved to be the case for Maxine Locke at the weekend. 

Her Headford Dane was out of action for over four months following his brilliant Ladbrokes Puppy Derby victory in March but he looked better than ever when scooping the Ladbrokes Gold Cup back at Monmore on Saturday. 

The August 2023 son of Ballymac Bolger was having only his fourth start back when running away from the strong-running Jacktavern Chief in scintillating fashion and clocked a superb 27.79 to land the £10,000 decider by a wide margin.

Given the problems Headford Dane has had to overcome, the trainer admitted that it made the Gold Cup success even sweeter.

“Yeah, it was unreal – it was an amazing night,” said Locke.

"I was screaming from the first bend! I kept saying ‘I’m sure he is going to get a run at that corner and he’s going to be thereabouts – he might even be in front.' I just thought the inside might tangle up and I thought he was going to get a run at the corner, and he did."

"It was always the plan to head back to Monmore and we went into it knowing he was going to improve with fitness and experience. 

"When he won the Puppy Derby, I thought he was capable of breaking 28 seconds around Monmore but then everything went wrong for him. We’re delighted we managed to get him back to the track and looking good."

 Headford Dane wins the Ladbrokes Gold Cup final. Photo: © Steve Nash

After such a long time on the sidelines, Locke is now looking ahead to an exciting future with Headford Dane and a tilt at the Kent Derby could be next on the agenda.

She continued: “He went lame on Mother’s Day and I was gutted. He did a really good trial at Sheffield and we took him back for another look round before the Gymcrack, which is when he went lame. I wish I hadn’t trialed him again now!

“He had plenty of time off and was actually coming back for the Juvenile Classic at Towcester but the kennel cough hit us quite bad, so we took a steady time back with him then.

“He is going to head to Central Park for a go at the Kent Derby. We’re going to give him a few trials there and a race, so hopefully he likes it.”

Turnthemagicon lives up to his name

Headford Dane wasn’t the only star performer from the kennel on Saturday’s card, as Locke’s Turnthemagicon shaped like a dog with huge potential when blowing his rivals away in the Peter Billingham Memorial final.

That built on his eye-catching victory in the heats and Locke believes he could have a very bright future.

She added: “He’s an exciting dog. He looks like a dog with plenty of gears and plenty of pace.

“He’s not quite the strongest, so we spoke about the East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth but I think we’re going to head to Doncaster instead for the Yorkshire Derby. 

“He’ll have a couple of trials and see how he is before we make our decision.”

Turnthemagicon after winning the Peter Billingham Memorial Trophy final. Photo: © Steve Nash 

Turnthemagicon. Photo: © Steve Nash 

Locke itching to get to the bottom of Droopys Scratch

Also in that final was his kennelmate Droopys Scratch, who caught the eye flashing home for third and she could be another one of Locke’s youngsters to look out for in the coming months.

She said: “We didn’t know too much about her - she came out of the Towcester sales and she looked like she might be a nice type, then she came in season. She is just coming out of that now and showing us plenty of potential. 

“I haven’t really got a plan for her yet but she might go to Towcester for the Empress Stakes, because she’s not a puppy for much longer so she can’t go for the Puppy Derby or anything like that.

“It’s a stiff 500m and she’ll hopefully be coming home strong. Obviously, I’m sure there will be some good bitches in there but she’s one that is hopefully going to keep on improving.

“Eventually, we’ll hopefully step her up in trip as she does look strong.”

Kennel back on song

Locke endured a torrid summer with a serious cough in the kennel but she is hoping that is all behind her now and her dogs appear to be hitting top form again.

“Our last three weekends have been back up to looking promising,” Locke explained.

“It was tough. I had the dogs blood tested and everything, and all we can put it down to is a cough and a virus. The cough went through us and we’ve got a kennel full of young dogs – they are the ones that get it and we did get it!

“Saturday was a really good for the kennel. The girls work so hard and we’ve got a brilliant team, so it was a good moment for all of us.”