Gold star for Connie at Romford

GOLDSTAR CONNIE sparkled in the opening round of this year’s Romford Puppy Cup on Friday night, sending out a warning to his rivals with a brilliant front-running display.

The Maxine Locke-trained youngster trapped smartly and flew into an early lead with superb opening acceleration in the first of the six heats, cruising home by five lengths and covering the 400m trip in a slick fastest-of-the-round 23.79sec.

Locke is hopeful her promising youngster, owned by the Live Life To The Max syndicate, can achieve great things on the track and, in turn, raise money for charity.

She said: “He is a nice pup, picked out by Paul Lawrence at the Monmore sales in July and a group of 20 people are involved, myself included.

“We had a slight setback with him but he has trialled well and was purchased with this competition in mind.

“He is such a lovely young dog who is a bit of a character. He was the only pup born in his litter and gets a bit lonely bless him.

“He is currently kennelled with Yahoo Maizy and when she has been away racing he has pined for her. But she is sidelined at the moment and he loves being with her.”

Locke, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, currently leads the trainers’ championship. Her Wickford-based Bonville Kennels has achieved plenty of success so far this year, including Monday’s Puppy Classic victory with Annadown Warrior. “I am more of a supervisor and planner at the moment due to the chemo and trying to keep myself well,” she said.

“Paul has organised most of it and 50 per cent of Goldstar Connie’s prize-money will be donated to a breast cancer charity, so hopefully he can enjoy a long and successful career on the track.”

Whisky Villarico made all at 16-1 in the second heat, which did not feature Puppy Classic finalist Scooby Mustang, who had been withdrawn off colour earlier in the day.

Representing Nathan Hunt, who won this event last year with Scooby Diamond, the November 2024 son of Ballymac Vic opened his account in fine style, crossing the line five lengths clear in 23.87sec.

Paul Young’s Bellini Bullet (24.38sec) was another winner off the front in heat three, before ante-post favourite Darcys Dude (24.08sec) had to dig deep to score in heat four.

Populist (24.03sec) rode a bump at the opening turn in heat five and drove to the front, winning in 24.03sec for local handler Gemma Evans.

Hove raider Cloheena Caelan (24.05sec) held on in a tight finish for Seamus Cahill in the final qualifier.

Locke also had success on the supporting card with two other winners. Finally Matched (35.09sec) shed her maiden stayer tag over 575m in good style and in-form Headford Sarah (23.77sec) impressed again over 400m.

Locke added: “Finally Matched has some good form on her card at Central Park so it was nice to see her win like that over six bends. We may head back to Monmore and 630m with her at some point.

“Headford Sarah is a little superstar at the moment. She didn’t come away that well but showed lovely early pace and has run ever so well again.”

Two finals featured on the card. The first over 575m was won in game fashion by Sharon Saberton’s Rossa Vita (35.33sec).

The Dave Mullins-trained Brindle Bully was excellent again over 400m in the standard final and dominated his rivals throughout in 23.89sec.

Champion trainer Mark Wallis struck in the finale with impressive winner Coonough Laura, who produced a dazzling fastest-of-the-night 34.89sec over the 575m.

Dave Lee’s Satin Barney (24.01sec) was the other winner on the night in a 400m maiden contest.

Elsewhere, Tom Heilbron won three of the six opens at Sunderland on Friday night.

Shalefield Cunha (27.45sec) got the ball rolling for the Newcastle handler over 450m, who also scored with Romeo Vega (27.26sec) and Links Jester (27.47sec).

Jimmy Fenwick’s Coppice Sapphire (26.91sec) was the fastest over the four bends on Wearside.

Glenn Foot’s prolific sprinter Foulkscourt Bono (15.42sec) justified cramped odds over 261m and Ted Soppitt’s classy Ballymac Buddy (27.20sec) returned to winning ways in division one of the standard.

Romford trap draw (Friday)
Coral Puppy Cup – SF1: 1 Honey Rex, 2 Goldstar Connie, 3 Droopys Pioneer, 4 Jacquesinthebox (m), 5 Paradise Probono (m), 6 Ivy Hill Ariel (w).
SF2: 1 The Other Hudson, 2 Bellini Bullet, 3 Rosstemple Vivo (m), 4 Whisky Villarico (m), 5 Darcys Dude (m), 6 Populist (w).
SF3: 1 Carrigoon Cece, 2 Churchfield King, 3 Puntos Opinion (m), 4 Westway Mario (m), 5 Cloheena Caelan (m), 6 Not Now Alan (w).

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