BALLYDOYLE TINA swooped late to deny front-running Slingshot Poppy and complete the final piece of a Classic jigsaw for Graham Holland in the final of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks at Dunstall Park on Saturday.

On a night the track at Wolverhampton Racecourse also staged the final of the Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup for a major Classic double-header in the West Midlands, it was victory for Ireland as Co. Tipperary-based Holland came out on top to add to his Irish Oaks successes and English and Irish Derby wins. An English Oaks victory had eluded him up to now.

“To be fair to Graham I’m not sure he’s had too many English Oaks entries over the years but the Holland family certainly set out their stall this year and were rewarded with two finalists,” said Dunstall Park racing manager Martin Seal. “And Ballydoyle Tina certainly saved the best for last given she reversed semi-final form with Slingshot Poppy. But what a brilliant race these two bitches served up.”

Slingshot Poppy (Brian Fairbairn) paced up to lead in the run to the first bend, just ahead of Ballydoyle Tina, with the pair soon clear of the remainder.

Thereafter it was between the front pair with the Paul Ellis and Seamus Hagan-owned Ballydoyle Tina gradually closing as the race unfolded and swooping to conquer off the last bend for a neck verdict over the Scottish raider, with Signet Nayla (Kevin Hutton) home in third. The winning time for the 480m trip was 28.09sec (-20).

Seal added: “You had to feel for connections of Slingshot Poppy and their supporters who’d made the trip from Scotland in dreadful conditions. Storm Boelo swept across most of the UK that day and night and there was a time earlier in the day when you wondered whether we’d get the meeting on at all!

“It eased off at times as the night went on, but the efforts of those who came from Scotland and those from Ireland supporting Graham’s runners were laudable.

“Overall we were delighted with the quality of racing across the two major events and the supporting card was also top notch. Well done here particularly to the kennels of Maxine Locke and Richie Taberner – plus a marathon match race was certainly something different and went down well. Well done to connections for their sporting decision to take part in it.”

 

Photo: Dunstall Park