Dane cuts a dash after Monmore disappointment

HEADFORD DANE fired a warning shot to all rivals in the upcoming Arc Birmingham Cup with a brilliant trial stakes win over the 480m trip at Dunstall Park on Saturday.

Maxine Locke’s dual Category One champion returned to winning ways in good style after his Monmore Gold Cup final disappointment, flashing out to make all in a rapid 28.17sec.

Two other trial stakes on the card were won by Ruth Lambe’s Da Mighty Man (28.49sec) and Kevin Hutton’s Stride On Clara (28.44sec).

The PGR St Leger also kicks off on Saturday in Wolverhampton and two trial stakes for the £20,000 showpiece also featured over the 715m trip.

Hutton’s odds-on Tooreen Rose was beaten by kennelmate Lets Go Girl (43.87sec) in the first, with Locke’s Newinn Jolie (43.38sec) making all in the other.

In trials before racing, Ladbrokes Gold Cup winner Woltemade moved well on his first look with a fastest-of-the-session 28.25sec for the 480m.

Jimmy Fenwick’s triple Category One winner broke well and clocked a 2.98sec split in a solo workout.

St Leger contenders Droopys Flare and Zenith Pasha also trialled over 480m for Sean Parker and Fenwick.

Kevin Hutton’s well-regarded Kranky Drake (28.54sec) is on the comeback trail and was also given a workout, as was promising kennelmate Magical Jason (15.82sec), who went best over 270m.

Maxine Locke’s Golden Jacket finalist Bluejig Outlaw (40.52sec) was the only trialler over 660m.

Kelly Wilton’s Gold Cup runner-up Grouchos Gregor is a notable name on today’s trial sheet.

Entries for the St Leger and Birmingham Cup close at 11am on Tuesday.

In-form Christy cruises to victory at Central Park 

FOXWOOD CHRISTY followed up some smart displays in recent weeks to land the Arc Maiden Trophy final over 491m, the feature race at Central Park, on Saturday, writes Dave Clark.

The decider went as expected, with the Barrie Backhurst-trained long odds-on favourite scoring easily in 29.39sec, and Backhurst landed a double as his Mongys Grace (41.52sec) proved too strong for novice stayer rivals over 664m.

Locke also landed a double courtesy of maiden winner Highview Levi (29.54sec) and bitches’ scorer Headford Lily (29.89sec).

Fastest of the night over 491m was the Dave Lewis-trained Alright Bullet (29.25sec), who was quickly into stride and dominated throughout.

Heats of two Category Three competitions took place on the open-race programme at Monmore, kicking off with the Ladbrokes.com Dual Distance Trophy over 630m. Victories went to Heather Dimmock’s Chasing Rachel (37.99sec) and Pat Curtin’s Timmys Hunter (37.82sec). Next week’s final will be over 684m.

Qualifiers for the maiden trophy over 480m went the way of Kim Billingham-Hine’s Cashin Nell (28.87sec) and Chris Fereday’s Sugar King (28.49sec).

There was also another smart win over four bends for Dave Page’s prolific Wise Tournament (28.25sec), while local handler Gary Griffiths landed a double.

At Star Pelaw, Ricky Holloway notched a treble that included a win for new recruit Droopys Graph (36.57sec) in maiden company over 590m.

Local handler Glenn Foot also secured a hat-trick, with a starring role in a marathon for in-form Witton Gucci (48.84sec) over 780m.

Sheffield’s Sean Parker enjoyed another Saturday night raid to Doncaster, landing a treble with Keefill Sequoia (27.92sec) over 450m, Magical Harper (29.91sec) over 483m and 661m winner Magical Supreme (41.75sec).

Kevin Cobbold bagged a double, while Barry Denby’s reigning Oaks champion Butlers Lane endured a rough ride on her comeback run and was beaten over 483m by Phil Milner’s Abigails Cian (28.40sec).

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