Morris takes sparkling Yarmouth treble in East Anglian Derby heats
The opening round of the East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth last night saw Craig Morris pick up winners in three of the six heats.
Buck is quickest in the East Anglian Derby
It's been a sparkling first half of the week for Craig Morris, fresh off his success with Radical Story in the Select Stayers at Nottingham on Monday night, he dominated his home turf on Wednesday with a treble in the heats of the Click Competitions East Anglian Derby.
Droopys Buck was just the quickest on the night, backing up a smart recent win in a trial stake for the competition. He didn't run the opening two bends as well as a couple of his rivals which left him with a few lengths to find down the back. Opening up, he got himself on their heels at the third bend, sweeping around the outside as they turned for home. It was a run that gave the impression that there are still lengths in the locker.
Just a spot slower than his kennelmate was Montana Tiger. There was plenty of bumping on the run to the opening bend, but he was able to hold his line right on the inside to turn in third. Once a gap opened up off the second bend he turned on the turbo to go clear down the back, eventually running out an eight-length winner.
The night has started dramatically for Morris with the victory of Flashing Fender in the same race where his odds-on favourite Droopys Assured had got his paw caught in his muzzle in the traps, ending his chance. A draw in stripes is wider than the winner ideally wants to be and it's not often that he wins if not on the bunny immediately, but this was not a typical race!
Hasselbomb was quick enough away for Kelli Windebank that he was able to move off to a middle line where he felt more comfortable on the run to the opening bend. He arrived from Ireland with a fair reputation, showing flashes of that so far for his new connections, picking up a trio of Nottingham opens, but this was a career best.
One who has started his career in bright fashion is Move Over Toby. Kevin Cobbold's charge is now the winner of six of his first eight starts. He just did enough to get to the first bend in front and that was all that was required of him. A November 24 whelp, he may still have a little better to come.
It's a fair drive down to Yarmouth for Savva Roberts but it was a trip worth making as 2025 finalist Bockos Buster kicked off his competition with a victory. He missed the kick a touch but still paced up into the lead come the opening turn. The pack were closing on him late as is always the case over this far but he had enough in the tank to hold them off.
