PERRY BARR broke new ground on Saturday as the Birmingham track staged the heats of the Arena Racing Company Oaks.

The first time the West Midlands venue has staged the bitches’ Classic, 12 heats took place over 480m with this year’s 72-bitch event including plenty of Irish interest – and it was one of the visitors who posted the fastest time of the afternoon’s action with an impressive front-running effort.

Lining up in heat three, the Mark O’Donovan-trained Skywalker Cilla, the Irish Derby Consolation winner, broke smartly on her way to a joint-fastest 3.50sec sectional before stretching six and a half lengths by the line in clocking 27.98sec (normal), just five spots off Drumkeen Oyster’s track record set in September 2015, and the third fastest time ever.

An Irish-trained double was landed by Maria Kennedy’s Billys Diva (28.19sec) in heat six, albeit this contest proved a deal closer as ex-Irish trained Front Amani, also making her UK debut, ran on strongly to get within three-quarters of a length of the winner. Dual Category One winner Jaguar Macie (Graham Rankin) was third here in a hot heat.

Coolavanny Aunty, recent winner of the Empress Stakes at Towcester, was another to impress on the clock as the Angela Harrison-trained class act made all in 28.15sec in heat 12, while Seamus Cahill’s Produce Stakes heroine Pocket Lola also began her latest big-race campaign with a victory, making all (3.50sec sectional) in heat eight in 28.39sec.

Fabulous Azurra made the semi-finals at Swindon and the lightly raced British-bred continued her improvement with a runaway victory in heat five. The Patrick Janssens-trained runner paced up well and was never headed as she crossed the line seven and three-quarter lengths clear of Skys Opal (Arran Dunn) in a fast 28.13sec.

The other heats were won by Robert Smith’s Billis Nipper (28.52sec), George Cunningham’s Lav Yin Yak (28.59sec), Stehen Rayner’s Nutty Gem (28.56sec), Gemma Evans’ Newinn Liz (28.50sec) – an Oaks finalist last year – Jim Reynolds’ Ritzy Lady (28.29sec), Kevin Hutton’s Anniversary Girl (28.38sec) and Carol Weatherall’s Mon Amie (28.61sec).

Perry Barr racing manager Martin Seal was delighted with the overall standard of the Oaks heats, commenting: “I thought the first round oozed quality and, although 2021 marks Perry Barr’s first year staging the Arena Racing Company Oaks, to my eye, this does appear a truly vintage renewal and it will surely take an exceptional performance from one of these super talented bitches to lift the title.

“As well as the many impressive first-round winners, there were plenty of eye-catching efforts from the remaining qualifiers, and there is lots to look forward to over the next couple of weeks. With rails seeds forming the bulk of the last 36, the draw will undoubtedly prove crucial as we progress further into the competition.”

Trap draw for Saturday’s second round:

Heat 1: 1. Magical Firebird, 2. Dolla Rosie, 3. Baggios Gem, 4. Billys Diva, 5. Inthebluecorner (m), 6. Ritzy Lady (w)

Heat 2: 1. Jaguar Macie, 2. Coolavanny Aunty, 3. Arthur Pumpkin, 4. Nolas Beauty, 5. Ballymac Trend (m), 6. Skywalker Cilla (m)

Heat 3: 1. Baggios Sky, 2. Coolavanny Bani, 3. Droopys Samantha, 4. Nutty Gem, 5. Fabulous Azurra (m), 6. Churchill Holly (m)

Heat 4: 1. Goldies Mabbutt, 2. Good Diva, 3. Skys Opal, 4. Tricia Jezabelle (m), 5. Mon Amie (m), 6. VACANT

Heat 5: 1. Hather Daisy, 2. Lights Out, 3. Luck Box Blue, 4. Luna Jezablle (m), 5. Ranchers Tigger (m), 6. Anniversary Girl (w)

Heat 6: 1. Garryglass Abbie, 2. Trendy Breeze, 3. Lav Yin Yak, 4. Pocket Lola (m), 5. Billis Nipper (m), 6. Front Amani (w)

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=378268&raceId=781659