BRUCE BAY will line up in Saturday’s final of the Ladbrokes Winter Derby at Monmore as the fastest semi-final winner after a superb display in the first semi of the £10,000-to-the-winner Category One event at the Wolverhampton venue.

Sharing the stage with the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket, three semi-finals of the 480m event saw three favourites beaten – but 8-1 chance Bruce Bay produced a stellar trap-to-line performance to help complete a fine evening’s work for Mark Wallis and give the champion trainer a crack at back-to-back Winter Derby successes.

Soon clear off the back of a snappy exit, the June 2023 son of Ballyhimikin Jet and Paper Moon raced to a four-length victory over last year’s Kent Derby runner-up in 28.04sec (normal) for the one-lap trip and delighted his handler.

Wallis said: “He came over to us with form in some nice races at Kilkenny and Cork plus wins at Waterford but we gave him plenty of time to settle in.

“He won for us second time up at Towcester. He did a 29.18sec there so we knew he could run and he’s taken to Monmore well. I’d say that was his best run in the semis and, were he to start as well on Saturday, he’d have every chance.

“We won the Winter Derby last year with Proper Heiress so it’d be nice to win it again, and with Mongys Wild in the Golden Jacket the same night we’re all looking forward to Monmore on Saturday. It’s a fantastic card and they do the big nights really well there.”

Kinsley’s Bouncing Monarch (7-1) continued his fine run of form for trainer David Fradgley in the second semi-final to secure his place in another major decider.

The Steel City Cup finalist, a January 2024 son of Deerjet Sydney and Lemon Elsa, trapped smartly and, with favourite Santas Amigo (David Mullins) missing the up, was soon in front and kept on well enough to cross the line a length clear of Gary The Arb, last year’s Winter Derby second, in 28.12sec (normal).

Tom Heilbron’s Toddys Wolf (8-1) was another decent-priced winner of the third semi-final as the December 2023 son of Pestana and Newinn Madam broke quickly and soon had his rivals under pressure, a fastest 4.27sec sectional setting up what proved a winning first-bend lead. Thereafter, the Newcastle raider always had the edge and kept on well to withstand the persistent challenge of favourite Droopys Aladdin (Mike Burton) by half a length in 28.44sec (normal), the pair securing places in Saturday’s £10,000 final.

Trap draw for the Ladbrokes Winter Derby Final: 1 Droopys Aladdin, 2 Bruce Bay, 3 Gary The Arb, 4 Bouncing Monarch, 5 Toddys Wolf (m), 6 Texas Jack (w).