ANTIGUA ROMEO claimed a fifth victory in the event for Mark Wallis when making all in Friday’s Coral Essex Vase Final at Romford – in the process recording the fastest winning time in the event’s six-bend history.

Trained by the boss of Imperial Kennels for Nic and Amanda Jeal, Antigua Romeo was one of two Wallis runners in the £10,000 decider along with Antigua Rum, who this time last year had won the Coral Coronation Cup for the same connections.

Antigua Rum ran another solid race when finishing third after first and second bend bumping, but it was kennelmate Antigua Romeo who was always the one to beat once trapping in front and making the first bend ahead of the chasing pack.

Droopys Aoife, who had broken only moderately, paced up well to turn in second and Ernie Gaskin’s bitch ran a superb race in her bid to regain the title she won in 2019. However, Antigua Romeo was not for catching and continued to set a furious pace.

The May 2017 son of Romeo Recruit and Kilara Cher crossed the line two and a quarter lengths clear in 34.66sec (+30) for the 575m trip – comfortably the fastest winning time for an Essex Vase final. It was a performance which delighted trainer Wallis.

“I suppose the time says it all – not just the best in the competition but one of the best ever at Romford, which is great,” he said. “He’s actually one of my favourite dogs in the kennel, he’s got a great way about him – and can certainly run!”

Antigua Romeo follows double winner Eye Onthe Veto (2006/2007), Reel Trickyone (2013) and Adageo Bob (2015) as Wallis-trained winners of the famous competition.

“It’s great to win another Essex Vase – we’ve won it five times, but Linda (Jones) also won it a couple of times too when I was her assistant. It’s a favourite, for sure.”

Winning owner Nic Jeal was also thrilled to have won another major Romford prize given Antigua Rum struck in the Coronation Cup in January last year.

“It’s great to have won again, and both ran really well which is great credit to Mark (Wallis) and his team.

“We decided to switch Romeo to 575m as he was getting older and struggling against four-bend dogs. He’s Amanda’s favourite, too, so we wanted to do everything to keep him running if possible, although he’d have been retired if stamina was an issue.

“But it was quickly clear the trip suited him, although we didn’t believe a dog of his age would be competitive in a Cat One competition. How he ran on Friday was both a shock and a delight – a 34.66sec. That’s incredible.

“To come within seven spots of the track record speaks volumes about the dog and the skill of Mark all the staff at Imperial Kennels. Romeo now has the major victory we always felt he deserved. We’re all delighted.”

Mark Arkell, Romford racing manager, offered his congratulations to winning connections after another excellent Category One event at the London Road venue.

He said: “It was an impressive performance by Antigua Romeo. Once he trapped out like that the writing appeared on the wall for the others, although Droopys Aofie ran on well and ran a superb race in defeat – but Romeo had gone. Well done all.”

Results: www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=369944&raceId=708096