COONOUGH CROW was again paw-perfect in the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Kent St Leger at Crayford on Sunday, stamping her authority on what looked on paper a tough assignment within a matter of strides.

Last year’s Arc Grand Prix winner lined up against fellow heat winners Ballymac Taylor, a kennelmate, plus Ricky’s Holloway littermate pair of Razldazl Amanda and Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket winner Dazl Rolex. However, a fast start soon saw the October 2020 daughter of Eden the Kid and Coonough Dolly in control in the dash to the turn.

Racing to a fast 23.03sec sectional, Coonough Crow never looked in danger as the Wallis runner kept up a relentless gallop to cross the line five lengths clear of Dazl Rolex, while the fast-finishing TV Trophy runner-up Ballymac Taylor just denied the tiring Razldazl Amanda a place in the £10,00 final by a head. The winning time for the 714m was 44.88sec (+40).

Winning trainer Mark Wallis said: “Crow’s running great so in that respect we’re absolutely delighted – but trap five for the final? That’s tough but she runs the track better than anywhere else so, if she can just come away, that’ll stand her in good stead hopefully. You always need that touch of luck and I’d swop Taylor’s draw in one with Crow’s in five. Wherever she is Taylor will take a tow round behind the faster starters.

“She’s looking more and more in need of a stiffer test, while Crow’s now showing so much speed. Look at her sectionals in the Kent St Leger – 23.03sec this week and 23.04sec last week – that’s some consistency and shows you where she’s at just now, probably in the best form of her life, even better than when she won the Grand Prix for us. That was the MWD Partnership’s first major win, so she’s always been a favourite!”

Baywatch Bullet completed a red jacket double in the second semi-final as Belinda Green’s May 2021 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Blundel Spark, a sister of Queen Mother Cup winner Savana Heross and Jacktavern Magic, produced a similar exhibition of front-running to race away from her field.

Quickly in stride on her way to slick 22.91sec sectional, Baywatch Bullet was never headed before winning by three and a quarter lengths clear of Droopys Flotilla (Nathan Hunt) and Longacres Porto (Pat Doocey) in 44.96sec (+40).

Sunday’s Ladbrokes Kent St Leger Final will be supported by the finals of the First Choice Drainage Solutions Puppy Cup (380m) and the Ladbrokes Kent Vase (540m). Fastest respectively in Sunday’s heats were Ricky Holloway’s Time To Talk (23.18sec +20) and the Jim Reynolds-trained Shaz Starlite (33.75sec +30).

Trap draw for Sunday’s finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Crayford/form-guides/Crayford-Sunday-19th-May-2024-Kent-St-Leger-Other-Finals-Form.pdf