The Doncaster Puppy Derby semis - Stephen Gray's opinion

Gray's Doncaster Puppy Derby thoughts

Doncaster racing official Stephen Gray once again oversaw the action in the semi-finals of the Doncaster Puppy Derby on Saturday - and believes these have set up a cracking £10,000 Category One decider on Saturday. 

Respectively they were won by My Twilight Zone (28.39sec), Carrigoon Cece (27.81sec) and Shado Earth (27.97sec) - and this weekend's live-on-SIS showpiece will see Carrigoon Cece look to land back-to-back Category One successes after winning the Coral Romford Puppy Cup last month.

Indeed, Saturday's decider will see Michelle Brown's runner eye a second major success in just her sixth start - surely some sort of record if achieved. 

Gray has reported back on the weekend's semis and will cast his eye over the final line-up for Greyhound Racing UK later in the week.

First semi:

This was probably the race of the competition to date. Local runner Cockneys Zachary paced up well to lead but in doing so squeezed up those behind by moving across to the inside at the bend. It proved very congested with many embroiled in crowding, being unable to get a run. 

The eventual winner My Twilight Zone produced a performance worthy of Category One status alone. Stumbling badly at the start, giving lengths away, Tom Heilbron's dog managed to pass through them all up the inner, then, moving to the outside to collar lead dog Cockneys Zachary, took it up to win from kennelmate Demon Hunter and Cockneys Zachary who dead-heated for second. A quite remarkable race. Tom's dog went through on the toss of a coin. 

You'd have to say Demon Hunter lost absolutely nothing in defeat, after problems at a crucial point rounding the third bend, so deserves his place in the final. However, it was a bitter pill to swallow for connections of Cockneys Zachery who got blindsided twice after leading for 449m! I understand that Drumdoit Fern was okay after her unfortunate slip and fall which is the main thing.

Second semi:

Carrigoon Cece produced a mirror image of her heat display, leading all, with another superb sectional, and clocking the fastest time of the three semis in 27.41sec (calc) for Michelle Brown and her team. It's great credit that the bitch in second Aero Molly qualified, keeping on strongly and able to reduce a near five-length deficit at one point to a length and a half at the line. 

Whatever happens in next week's final, this young bitch in time will be exceptional over six bends. She is very much one to note. Lady Gambet stayed on well for third, but was unable to reel in the front two.

Third semi:

This went the way of David Mullins' Shado Earth who again showed nice early to lead up once more and, to his credit, stayed on resolutely late on to repel the challenge of the gallant, and possibly unfortunate in running trackmate Cluain Denis by a half a length at the line. 

Again, similar to Carrigoon Cece from the second semi, Shado Earth's performance was a mirror image of his first-round display, the middle trap proving of little inconvenience to him. Tromora Sand ran on okay in third but could not get close enough to trouble the front two. However, he is a greyhound who may profit from a step to a stiffer four bends.