Maldini produces the goods
ROMEO MALDINI faced a race against time to make the line-up for the Breeders’ Forum Produce Stakes, but now stands on the verge of a memorable success for Dave Firmager in tomorrow’s £15,000 final over 480m at Hall Green after a fastest-of-round semi-final success on Tuesday.
“He looked very promising earlier in the year,” said trainer Firmager of the January 2006 son of Droopys Maldini and Fast March yesterday, “but then he had a problem in the Derby and, after we sent him to Ireland and he finished a good third in the International at Dundalk, he came backwith another little niggle following a run at Shelbourne.
“It was touch and go whether he’d make the Produce Stakes which is why he only had a couple of sprint trials beforehand, but he’s showing his bestform now and, although I know everyone says it, he really does seem to be improving with every run.”
On Tuesday, Romeo Maldini led early in the second semi but forfeited the advantage to Mountjoy Gold when moving wide at thesecond bend and quickly found himself a couple of lengths in arrears before rallying in style to hit the front again on the run-in and beat a staying-on Westmead Ace by just under two lengths in 28.39sec (normal). Mountjoy Gold was short-headed for the second qualifying position.
“He does have a habit of moving wide at the second bendeverywhere,” said Firmager, “but Hall Green tends to take them out anyway.
“What was pleasingwas how strongly he stayed on, and to the pick-up as well, and I think the format of the competition with four runs in nine or 10 days suits him. Historically his problem was that he didn’t break, but we did a bit of work on that and he’s actually been trapping quite well - I’m hoping he does the same in the final because he does have an unfortunate habit of going right round the outside of greyhounds if he has to pass them.”
Romeo Maldini has fared best of the five wide seeds qualifying for tomorrow’s final by drawing trap six, but Firmager is not expecting success to come easily. “It’s a competitive final, probably more so than people might have thought likely at the start.
“It would mean an awful lot to win it, more than any other competition other than the Derby really, because British breeding is in decline again which was shown when the Produce Stakes struggled to fill this year and there wasn’t even a qualifying round.”
The Mark Wallis-trained Mountjoy Ruby, who beat Romeo Maldini in round two, will go into tomorrow’s decider as the only unbeaten finalist having easily landed the odds in the third semi-final, posting 28.47sec on a track by then rated -10 slow, while Alston Masala continued his excellent form for new trainer Brian Booth when taking the opening semi in 28.54sec (normal).
Quickest time on Tuesday came from the John Mullins-trained Blonde Fern in the opening heat of the Wafcol Midland Oaks which she took in 28.29sec (normal). She, too, drew trap six in the final and connections will be hoping for a happier outcome than when she was knocked over in the final of the Skybet Gymcrack over the course and distance back in July.
Draws for tomorrow’s finals - Produce Stakes: 1 Bomber Blue, 2 Westmead Ace (w), 3 Alston Masala (w), 4 Mountjoy Ruby (w), 5 Razorgator (w), 6 Romeo Maldini (w).
Midland Oaks: 1 Little Reaction, 2 Steady Scholes, 3 Townbrow Melody, 4 Droopys Ivanovic (m), 5 Klockwork Kyla (w), 6 Blonde Fern (w).
