Maverick is Top Gun for Milner
Phil Milner was delighted with Keefill Maverick's victory in the second round of the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby at Towcester.
Keefill Maverick delights Phil Milner with his second round Derby victory
Phil Milner never doubted that Keefill Maverick had it in him to win the way he did in the second round of the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby at Towcester.
Sent off at 7/2 for heat 15 on Saturday, the July 2022 whelp come out running and showed a lovely burst of early speed to lead Cooliogold and Newinn Benni into the opening bend.
He kept on strongly to cross the line four and a quarter lengths clear of the latter in 28.93, and his trainer could hardly have been more pleased with the way he ran.
“I was over the moon,” said Milner
“I knew he could come away better than he did in the first round and we just hoped he’d lead up. He is very well in himself, and we knew he had a decent run in him.
“If he comes away, then he’s around a 4.04 sectional dog at Towcester. We’ve changed a couple of things, and he seems to be staying on a bit better as well.
“He has come out of the race well. He’s bouncing in himself and full of it.”
Keefill Maverick will sport the orange jacket again when goes in heat five of the third round this Saturday and Milner is happy with the draw.
The trainer continued: “I like him in trap four or five, so he’s got his box. You’d hope he would lead the six dog up (Ballymac Tibet) and then it’s a case of what the inside dogs do.
“They are all fast dogs and I’m not sure he can lead Droopys Aladdin up, but hopefully he can go round in touch. Which way Faypoint Susie goes out of trap four is going to be a big thing.”
Keefill Maverick was the first dog out of the Droopys Addition-Tarsna Atalanta litter that Milner bred and reared himself, and he said that makes it all the more special to be in the third round of the Classic.
“It’s unbelievable,” added Milner.
“We’re tiny kennel and we’re fairly new to it. It makes it all the sweeter that we bred and reared him at home.”
Keefill Goose out of luck
Things didn’t go as well for his litter brother Keefill Goose, who failed to build on his first-round success when finishing fourth on Friday evening. However, Milner reports his charge to be in good order after the race.
He said: “Goose has come out of the race completely fine and he is full of himself.”
“I thought Goose would be our best chance but a few things just transpired against us and he ran a bit flat, but it’s just one of those things.“
