Local hopes pinned on Now And Then in PGR Oaks semi-finals
Now And Then could give the locals something to cheer about in the semi-finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks at Dunstall Park.
Picture: Now And Then
Local handler Deakin eyes Oaks finalist
Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium could be represented by its first Category One finalist just weeks after its launch in the £20,000 Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks a week on Friday.
Racegoers at the Wolverhampton track will be hoping Simon Deakin’s star hound Now And Then can finish in the first two of her semi-final on Friday night to qualify for the new venue’s showpiece event.
Doing so would break new ground for the Alvechurch handler and his team, who have never reached an Oaks final before and only qualified for their first Category One final in May when Haka Carlo finished sixth in the Golden Jacket.
A February ’23 bitch out of nine-times open race winner Calzaghe Jan, Now And Then finished third in both her round one and round two races to qualify for the semi-finals.
And Simon is keeping everything crossed that his kennel star can go one step further by reaching the final.
“We’re all over the moon to have made the semi-finals,” said Deakin.
“We entered her to try and qualify past a couple of rounds, and she’s done just that.
“Now we’re less than 30 seconds away from potentially reaching the Oaks final, it’s the stuff dreams are made of.”
Trapping besides Now And Then will be Kilwest Diva, Bridefort Lady, Signet Nayla, Meenagh Minsk and Easy Molly.
Deakin said he has every faith that Now And Then is capable of qualifying if she’s granted an all-important clear run.
“If she gets a clear run, there’s no doubt she can qualify,” he continued.
“Kilwest Diva (trap one) has some good early pace, so if she can track her around the first bend and make her move off the final turn it could work out well.
“She’s clocked some great times so the whole team is excited for Friday night where hopefully we can qualify for our second Category One final of the year.
“She’s had a check over by our physio on Monday and is in great order, between now and race day we’ll keep her routine the same and hope for the best!”
Tickets for the semi-finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks at Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium on Friday, October 17, are available online via www.dunstallpark-greyhounds.co.uk.
Doors open at 5.30pm with the first race at 6.14pm.
Tickets for finals night a week later are also on sale from £5 with an evening of classic rock planned once racing concludes.
2025 Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks Semi-Finals:
Semi Final One: Droopys Eunice, Raebella Bullet, Strike It Skye, Paradise Sky, Butlers Lane, Ballymac Kinga.
Semi Final Two: Fabulous Aria, Aero Bucks, Vacant, Avongate Venus, MakeIt Mead, Annadown Zara.
Semi Final Three: Kilwest Diva, Now And Then, Bridefort Lady, Signet Nayla, Meenagh Minsk, Easy Molly.
