SMALLMEAD raced to outright favouritism in the Coral Essex Vase after setting the standard in Friday’s heats of the £10,000 event at Romford.

The first GBGB Category One competition of 2021, the Essex Vase has a new January slot this year with a number of major stars of 2020 included in a top-class entry for the  575m event – including the RPGTV St Leger champion.

Lining up in heat four, Smallmead was quickly away (13.48sec sectional) and soon clear on her way to a runaway near-seven length victory in 34.84sec (+15), with Perrys Choice (Michelle Brown) and View King (Patrick Janssens) qualifying behind John Mullins’ star.

Mullins said: “I was delighted to see her come away like she did. That was important to get first run on Perrys Choice, who goes to the bend well, and then once she’s clear off the second bend you know she’s not going to be coming back.

“I was happy with her trial (24.08sec, 400m) before the comp,” added Mullins. “Not so much the time, which was good, but beating a good four-dog dog of ours like Swift Lettuce – and leading him. She was certainly ready to go again at Romford.

“We all know what happened in the Champion Stakes, but she’s still the St Leger champion and that means a lot to all of us – she’s a special bitch,” added Mullins of the David and Lee Calcutt-owned May 18 daughter of Definate Opinion and Ballymac Razl.

The quality of the Essex Vase entry was underlined by the fact that the Yarmouth trainer, seventh in the GBGB Trainer of the Year standings for 2020, entered four runners for the Essex Vase with only Smallmead making the first round line-up.

“It was disappointing, especially with Going Forward having won the Yarmouth Track Championship, but to be fair to Romford it’s a tough job when you’ve got so many quality runners to choose from. We just got on with it,” the trainer added.

Next quickest was heat five winner Aayamza Lexie (34.93sec +15) who completed a superb Essex Vase heat treble for Mark Wallis.

The two-year-old bulleted from the boxes (13.49sec sectional) on her way to a near six-length victory over 2019 Essex Vase champion Droopys Aoife (Ernie Gaskin) and track-record holder Sparta Master (Sharon Thompson) in a top-quality contest.

The Wallis treble had been initiated by Olympic semi-finalist Drumcrow Brent, who was always handy in heat one before grabbing kennelmate Antigua Boy in the shadow of the post to win by a head in 35.29sec (+15).

Three-time GBGB Category One winner Desperado Dan (Patrick Janssens) qualified in third here to reach another major Romford semi-final, while Antigua Rum (35.23sec +15) also has his eyes on another title at the Coral venue after his success in heat three.

The middle leg of the Wallis treble in the Vase – the kennel had four winners on the night in total after Anhid News won a maiden 575m contest – Antigua Rum won last year’s Coral Coronation Cup in this same January date.

The other heats on Friday were won by the Janssens-trained Doolin Princess, who made all from fast-finishing Sheldan (Kevin Boon) in 35.40sec, and Droopys Mansion (Kevin Hutton), who swooped late to deny Antigua Romeo (Mark Wallis) in 35.40sec (+15).

Mark Arkell, Romford racing manager, said: “We had a few upsets and a few favourites beaten, but overall it was another very good night’s racing.

“Some races went to form and others showed there’s definitely some new blood coming through the staying ranks in these 575m races here at Romford.

“Mark Wallis will definitely be pleased at how the heats went. He entered a strong team for the Essex Vase and they certainly did him proud. I was particularly impressed with his Aayamza Lexie, especially how she trapped in such a strong race.

“We’re looking forward to the semi-finals already and can promise another strong supporting card with races over a variety of distances. These close on Tuesday.”

*Form and trap draw for Friday’s semi-finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Romford/form-guides/Draft-Racecard15thJan.pdf