ANNADOWN WARRIOR heads into Sunday’s semi-finals of the Orchestrate Juvenile Classic at Towcester as hot favourite for the Category One title over 500m – after a superb few days for one of the best litters around just now.

After Annadown Chip’s success in the Arc Puppy Trophy at Sunderland on Thursday and a third-placed for littermate Annadown Wendy in the Category Two event on Wearside, it was the turn of two other littermates to strut their stuff successfully at the weekend in the shape of Annadown Warrior and Annadown Shadow.

Like Annadown Chip and Annadown Wendy, Annadown Warrior is trained by Central Park’s Maxine Locke, while Sheffield’s Sean Parker has Annadown Shadow.

Fastest of the afternoon session at the Northamptonshire circuit was Annadown Warrior as the September 2024 son of Grangeview Ten and Annadown Cutie was quick to stride in heat three and was never headed as he raced away for an eight and a half length success over newcomer Scooby Mustang (Carol Weatherall) in a standard-setting 28.72sec (-10).

Victory followed success for littermate Annadown Shadow in heat three as a strong-running display saw the Sean Parker-trained winner catch fast-starting Venetian Mario (John Campbell) off the second bend before pulling clear for a five-length win in 28.88sec (-10).

The other heats were both won by Paul Young-trained youngsters.

Bowmers Buddy led early in heat one for a three and three-quarter lengths win over kennelmate Gav Nificent in a slick 28.81sec (-10), while kennelmate Underground Matt forced his way to the front off the second bend for a four-length win over Swift Quick (Kevin Hutton) in 29.32sec (-10).

Towcester racing manager Danny Rayment said: “This is the first Juvenile Classic I’ve been involved with – and we’ve definitely got a nice crop of youngsters in it. You saw that with some of the times clocked – especially by Annadown Warrior, and that whole litter, Shadow included, look something special.

“We saw Annadown Chip here on Derby final night winning the puppy final and he’s gone well since at Sunderland. Warrior finished second to Chip here for Maxine (Locke) and he clearly runs Towcester well and has probably come forward since Derby final night as you’d expect. And, of course, Shadow looks pretty good also!

“Overall we’re set for two good semi-finals. We kept the race open a day later than planned and got 24 pups for the heats which was good. We had the clash with Sunderland which may have had an effect but both competitions have proved quality.

“Annadown Warrior is clearly the one to beat but the very nature of puppy events means that improvement from them all is likely. A couple of pups – Scooby Mustang and Puntos Opinion – actually made their debuts in the heats, so you’d expect them to come forward especially.”

 

Photos: © Steve Nash