DROOPYS FLIGHT set the standard in the heats of the Coral Golden Sprint at Romford on Friday with Nathan Hunt’s local blitzing his field in heat five of the GBGB Category One event over 400m.

Showing a good turn of early pace to edge ahead of fast-starting Bestofalltime into the turn, the orange jacketed-runner was never in danger thereafter as the March 2019 son of Ballymac Eske and Droopys Rhiona scooted clear to score by four and a half lengths in 23.86sec.

Next quickest on the clock was last week’s Towcester Northamptonshire Sprint champion Crossfield Dusty as the Patrick Janssens-trained multiple big-race winner produced an equally impressive performance in landing the sixth and final heat – again in all-the-way style.

The brilliant January 2020 son of Droopys Jet and Crossfield Kate, the ante-post favourite, blasted to a quickest-of-the-night 3.60sec sectional on his way to leading home Newinn Tik Tok (Patrick Browne) by five lengths in 23.93sec, with Towcester runner-up Havana Class (Liz McNair) overcoming crowding in third.

Paul Burr sent out Swift Cope to post the fastest clock in the heats 12 months ago and the Yarmouth trainer was again on the mark with Zari Rosie in heat three as the two-year-old continued her brilliant recent run.

Pacing up to the turn before riding a bump into the lead, the November 2019 daughter of Droopys Jet and Zari Frankie was never troubled thereafter as she followed up her two recent competition wins over C&D with a four-and-a-quarter length win in 24.15sec.

Mark Wallis landed a 1-2-3 in heat four as Rail McCoy led at the first bend on his way to a four-length success over kennelmates Antigua Socks and Early Knight in 24.11sec.

The other heats were won by Paul Young’s Moorstown Victor (24.44sec) over Russian Blake (John Mullins) and Kilscannell King (Nathan Hunt) and John Mullins’ Ballymac Slapup (24.57sec) over Into The Void (Laurence Tuffin) and Adamant Taurus (Jane Craske).

Mark Arkell, Romford’s deputy racing manager, said: “There really were some exceptional performances in the heats of the Coral Golden Sprint – I’d say up with some of the best we’ve had as a full set of races in this competition. They were that good.

“You’d make the highlight being Droopys Flight as the fastest of the heats. He’s always been extremely capable given a chance to go off the front and the time was a really impressive one – and it was a cracking local victory to boot.

“Crossfield Dusty certainly justified his ante-post favourite tag with a blistering break and rapid-fire sectional time. He’s a major winner in sprints but had won here in the past so we knew he handled the track and he’s run a stormer.

“Zari Rosie and Ballymac Slapup both put in professional performances to win their heats – and were probably expected to win. However, heat one winner Moorstown Victor was definitely one for the bookmakers! Nevertheless he did it well.

“Rail McCoy was also a smart winner to give Mark Wallis at 1-2-3 in that heat, although I’d imagine he’d feel hard done given all three have been drawn together again in the third semi-final. Of course, it’s just two-to-qualify now.

“We’re already looking forward to next week’s semi finals as the draw has again set up some fantastic races.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=382756&raceId=820752

*Form and trap draw for Friday’s semi-finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Romford/form-guides/Friday-11th-March-Proof.pdf