Three for Milner in the opening round of the Produce Stakes

Three for Milner to start the Produce Stakes

The Produce Stakes kicked off at Towcester with an opening round treble for Phil Milner. Keefill Teak was the quickest of his three scorers in what had looked a very competitive heat beforehand. Just a quarter of a point in the betting separated the first three in the market but Keefill Teak was a class apart on the track, turning on the gas from halfway to come four lengths clear come the line. 

It was later in the day that Keefill Mo hit the front but once more, the way that he came home was deeply impressive to watch. He had some solid form over 450m at Doncaster prior to this but it felt like he really rose to the occasion, showing that 500m is a great trip for him around here.

The final winner for Miner in his treble was Keefill Walker. He looks the least furnished of the three, still in need of the experience but he showed a good attitude to get on top late on in the day. There should be plenty more progression in the tank as he matures, so although he was the slowest of Milner's three winners, he may prove to be a fair bit better than the bare form here. 

There was a double for Laurence Tuffin with Romeo Leon just about clearing those inside him as they headed around the opening couple of bends. It was his bend running in the first half of the race that won him the day, driving the second bend perfectly to gain an advantage that he never looked like giving up. 

The race prior to Romeo Leon had seen Tuffin kickstart his double with Fabulous Rakiya. She is better known as a stayer and it was that which won her the day here. She has headed having led in the early stages but she kept handy enough to the leader after a messy opening bend to get herself back to the front as they swung into the straight.

Harton Whirlwind was the quickest of the eight heat winners. Rose Draper's BGBF British Bred Puppy Cup winner showed a bit more early pace than is sometimes the case with him as he looks to add to that Category One win. It was his first race outing since that win seven weeks ago, so there could still be something to work on with him.

Carol Weatherall picked up a win with Tre Cool. His experience of this track looked to be a big help to him as he popped out in front while his main market rival of John Flaherty's was steady to stride. Six of his seven career wins have come at this track having made his debut on August 31 last year.

The other heat winner was Romeo Arran for Patrick Janssens. He had a great nip and tuck battle with Untold Dinero all the way around, just proving to be the stronger of the pair when it mattered the most. A Gymcrack finalist earlier on in the year, this was his first success, proving well suited to a slightly wider starting position.

Draper and Hodson double up at Sheffield

Along with her quickest of the Produce Stakes winners, Rose Draper picked up a double on her home sand at Sheffield. Headford Mason was a decent winner of a sprint contest, stopping the clock at 15.88. It was his first run since April, the winner of three graded races over 500m earlier on in the year but this drop to sprinting was a clear career best, for all that he only has eight starts in his life.

At the other end of the distance scale was Distant Fox who claimed a 660m contest for Draper. It has been a bit of a stop start year for the veteran, running over his best trip for the first time since January and taking full advantage of turning handy to the speed to run out a very comfortable nine-length winner. 

There was also a double for Kelly Hodson, both over 500m. Romeo Force was the quicker of the pair by half a length, showing the best gears to the opening bend to go around in front. He's a powerful type over this distance which makes him a very tough one to knock off the bunny once he is leading. 

Romeo Cobra took the other success for Hodson, using the same away and gone tactics. He produced an impressive 4.17 sectional on his way to victory. It is not often that he times his exit quite as well as that, and similarly to his kennelmate, once he is on the bunny, that was race over. 

The most impressive run of the day came from William Hamilton's Jacktavern Turbo. He produced a 4.22 on his way to a 28.58, the fourth fastest time of the year to this point. Third in the Race of Champions at Tralee back in June, he has the potential to be an excellent addition to the kennel. 

There was a 480m race to kick off the afternoon which was won by Alien Bat for Stephen Naylor. He was another who got away from the lids quicker than his rivals to head into the opening bend right on the speed. He has now won three of his five starts since joining the kennel.

Richie Taberner won the other race on the card with Adelinesfirstdog. He had been turned over on his first start at this track last week and showed the benefit for having that look around, running riot by eight and a quarter lengths. 

Anglesey Milo lands the SIS British Bred final

Anglesey Milo is a classy type, so it was not a surprise to see him sent off a warm order for the final of the SIS British Bred final yesterday for Nathan Hunt. Clad in the red jacket as he was in his heat, he was well in control of proceedings from an early stage. He has kept warm company in general as a pup and deserved a decent pot.

Another to blitz their way around from the front was Old Road Villain for Adrian Rawlings. This was his debut for the kennel after coming over from Ireland where he had shown a fair level of form. It will be interesting to see if he can back up the visual impression on his next start.

Steven Howard collected a sprint winner with Crokers Darwin, pacing up well on the inside after a modest start to poke his head in front at the opening bend. It was his first open race win since March when he was in the care of Rose Draper. 

Clongeel Bono picked up a win for Christian Darch to make it three in a row and five of his last six. There was a little more early pace in the race compared to a few of his recent starts so he was not able to turn quite as handy but he had things under control as they hit the third bend. 

There was also a winner on the card for Donna Davy, her success coming from Hawkfield Irish. The veteran tends to do the best of his work in the latter stages of his races, and that was the case once more here, getting up late on to grab the victory.