Russell's sprinter lays claims to being Da Don at Nottingham
There were just a couple of opens at Nottingham on Monday night but they both served up a treat for viewers with the sprint especially a strong-looking contest.
Sprint features at Nottingham
Even through there were only a couple of opens on Monday night at Nottingham, the sprint was worth the watch alone. Bockos Buster beat Da Don when they met a couple of weeks ago but it was Mark Russell's November 23 whelp who came away best to turn that form around.
Kevin Boon's multi Category One finalist was slower to stride than he had been the last couple of weeks and that was enough for the winner to take out enough of a lead to win by three-quarters of a length.
It was just race 14 in the career of Da Don and the sixth for his current kennel. His 17.48 ranks up there with the top times over the last couple of years. There should be a little bit more to come from him.
The other open on the card was a 500m race where Hillend Millie emerged victorious for Paula Timmons. She had progressed well up the grades in very quick time since arriving at the track. She won an A4 in her second run at Nottingham back on December 20, scoring in A2, A1 and now that this level.
She picked up a couple of wins (both at Thurles) when trained in Ireland and has won four of her six starts at Nottingham. It is early pace that has been her weapon of choice, sub five seconds on the sectional in each of her last four starts. Her dam is from a repeat mating of Ballymac Eske and Badminton Baby to the one that produced Roxholmes Kristoff and Olaf the first time around.
