HARLOW promoter Dave Barclay has hailed the Essex track’s latest open-race initiative as a great success after Ballyoak Petal bloomed in the BGBF Sprint Final on Wednesday, storming to victory with a terrific show of early pace.

The British bred-only competition over 238m offered a £4,000 first prize and plenty more in total prize-money across three rounds, and it was the July 2015 daughter of Slip The Lark and Ballyoak Alice who took the Category Two decider in great style.

Owned and bred by Colin Elliot and trained by his friend Dave Lewis, the now Poole-based runner was led from the boxes by fast-starting senior Trapstyle Jet but paced up well against the fence to hit the front before the turn and go on.

Drawing clear and taking advantage of crowding amongst the chasing pack, Ballyoak Petal crossed the line two lengths clear of the staying-on Queen Dawn (Daniel Brabon), posting 14.62sec (+10) – fastest in the three-round competition.

“It was a great performance, because I thought she was under pressure into the bend when the three (Trapstyle Jet) trapped so well,” said Barclay. “But she showed great pace and was a very worthy winner in the end.

“I presented the jacket and trophy to connections afterwards, and they’re nice people who have supported our opens, which is appreciated given their dogs are Poole-based,” said Barclay. “Hopefully we’ll see them again soon.”

Ballyoak Petal is a bitch with an interesting back-story given she is already a mother of a litter of pups – born last December – plus had already reached a major final when behind King Elvis in last year’s Produce Stakes final at Swindon.

“She led in that final, too, I understand,” added Barclay. “So she has something about her, and it’s a great comeback to the track after having the pups, and clearly connections are ready to continue their success with British-bred dogs.”

Barclay said the support of SIS had been vital in staging the event. “Between us we wanted to support British breeding and a competition like this helps show that. It was supported well enough for us to stage three rounds, and hopefully we’ll do it again.

“It’s been a new experience for us this year, of course,” the Harlow owner and promoter continued. “We had a new racing schedule to come to terms with, and the first six months have certainly seen a settling in period. It’s hard work, but definitely progress!

“We run our share of one-off opens, and small two-run comps, and that continues throughout the summer into autumn, but I’d like to think we could stage a Category One here before the year is out. That’d be good for the track and sure would be supported.”