COOLAVANNY AUNTY led home Coolavanny Bani for a famous Angela Harrison-trained one-two in the Coral Essex Vase Final at Romford on Friday.

Winner of the Empress Stakes at Towcester last year, in which she also led home Coolavanny Bani on route to the spoils, Coolavanny Aunty landed her second Category One prize in quite scintillating fashion as the September 2019 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Katie paced up handily, rode a bump with fast-starting Sweet Pear at the turn, but was clear off the second bend and on her way to victory.

Quickly racing clear, the classy Alnwick Greyhound Group-owned two-year-old had wrapped up the £10,000-to-the-winner event, eventually crossing the line six and quarter lengths clear of kennelmate Coolavanny Bani, with Sweet Pear (Mark Wallis) half a length further back in third. The winning time for the 575m trip was 35.25sec (normal).

Sandy Dixon, who heads the owning Alnwick Greyhound Group, was the first to congratulate the team behind the Essex Vase winner.

He told RPGTV: “It’s very good for the kennel, so congratulations to Jimmy and Angie,” while Jimmy Wright described the kennel’s star performer as a “class bitch”.

Wright added: “We were thinking of keeping her to 480m, but she stays, so maybe we’ll look at 630m but we’ve for a few options. The Derby at Towcester, where she won the Empress Stakes, is also a possibility.”

“Noel Browne sent her over and said she might be an Oaks bitch. She didn’t look great early on and probably took time to settle but once she did she’s really come forward. I suppose it make the miles we’ve done worth it, but if you’ve got the team to travel then we’ll travel – and this pair have done us proud.

“We love Bani. She’s won plenty of races and competitions and has run at the top for her whole career. She’s been the bridesmaid behind Aunty of late but always gives her best.”

Romford general manager Karen McMillan said: “Congratulations to Angela (Harrison) and all her team after what was a brilliant performance from her runners in the Essex Vase final, especially Coolavanny Aunty who was superb. After she won the semi-final so well she was always going to the favourite.

“She’s clearly top-class and has the mix of speed and stamina which is needed to win an Essex Vase and, for connections, is an exciting young talent.

“Overall we were delighted with Friday. The Coral Maiden, a new event, worked really, really well and, along with a 400m Standard final, a kennel sweepstakes, and the Essex Vase, made it a really could card on the track and generated a superb Friday night crowd and atmosphere. It was really good to welcome so many people back at Romford.”

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=381635&raceId=811038