Parker ace Shadow looks a bright recruit

SHEFFIELD trainer Sean Parker, who has enjoyed some serious highs in recent times with elite stayer Droopys Flare, has high hopes he may have another star on his hands following Sunday’s stunning debut success from new pup Annadown Shadow.

The September youngster, who won his only start in Ireland in commanding style, lined up in one of the hottest heats of the Category One Bet St George Gymcrack and ran out a near five-length winner over Jimmy Fenwick’s Northern Puppy Derby champion Woltemade in a smart 28.62sec (+20 for all) for the 500m course.

Parker, who also steered Magical Supreme – third behind Maxine Locke’s Droopys Vicar – through to this week’s semi-finals, said: “We’re over the moon with how Annadown Shadow has run. A few lads clubbed together to buy him and we had this in mind, but I was worried due to his lack of race experience.

“Not only did we have Woltemade in there, but Ted Soppitt’s Ballymac Buddy as well, and he’s beaten them in style. He has decent early speed and great middle. He had a good battle with Woltemade to the third bend, but then he’s dropped another gear and gone away from them.

“What was exciting was the fact he looked stronger the further he went, including after the line. He’s an exciting dog for sure.”

The run followed on from impressive victories for two of his litter brothers – Annadown Warrior and Annadown Chip – for Locke at Hove on Saturday night. Parker added: “They look a really nice litter. There’s still a couple out in Ireland and they’re winning races too.

“I don’t think our lad in draw-dependent but he has trap one again in the semis so that will hopefully give him a chance to get loose on the inside again. It’s a really good Gymcrack, befitting the fantastic prize-money [£17,500 to the winner] and you have to respect the trainers who have travelled to run in it.

“We’re up against the favourite on Sunday in Mark Wallis’s Forgottotellya and I thought he ran well to win his heat after an early bump.

“I’m not convinced Sheffield is the best track for our other pup [Magical Supreme] given he’s a wide runner – a fast railer always has an advantage over a fast wide there in my opinion – but he ran well enough first time up and he looks a strong dog who will flourish at the right venue.”

Quickest of the six heat winners was John Flaherty’s Scottish raider Copney Queen who flew out (4.22sec sectional) to make all in a swift 28.51sec and she now sits at 7-2 best in the ante-post lists behind Wallis’s unbeaten youngster, who recorded 28.98sec in landing his heat.

Locke struck twice with Droopys Script (29.03sec) and Droopys Vicar (29.06sec), while Richie Taberner’s Ladbrokes Puppy Derby semi-finalist Holding Aero followed up his trial stakes win over Ballymac Buddy, the Monmore raider running a cracker to come from behind in 29.23sec.

Parker also confirmed all is well with six-bend star Droopys Flare, who was last seen in action on March 15 when running riot in Sheffield’s Queen Mother Memorial final. He said: “She’s fit and well and a little frustrated if truth be told, but there’s not much for her right now.

“I made the decision to run in that Sheffield competition and ruled out the Grand Prix at Sunderland as a consequence. She’s swimming and walking and raring to go. There’s plenty to aim at in the second half of the year.

“The next target will be the 712m competition that runs alongside the Derby at Towcester, and we’ll keep her fresh for that.”

Betting
Bet St George Gymcrack (general unless stated): 3 Forgottotellya (bet365), 7-2 Copney Queen (bet365), 9-2 Annadown Shadow (bet365), 6 Droopys Script (Coral, Ladbrokes), 12 Droopys Vicar (bet365, Paddy Power), 16 bar.

Trap draw
Bet St George Gymcrack - 1st semi-final: 1 Harton Whirlwind, 2 Droopys Vicar, 3 Hasselbomb, 4 Woltemade (m), 5 Droopys Buck (m), 6 Magical supreme (w).

2nd semi-final: 1 Annadown Shadow, 2 Droopys Typical, 3 Good  Molly, 4 Drive On Flint (m), 5 Forgottotellya (m), 6 Coolruss Ronnie (m).

3rd semi-final: 1 Aero Razorwind, 2 Newinn Rex, 3 Romeo Arran, 4 Copney Queen (m), 5 Holding Aero (m), 6 Droopys Script (m).

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