EXVE PRINCE landed a brilliant local victory in the Coral Romford Friday Night Bonanza Standard Final at Romford on Friday, a brand new three-round GBGB Category Two event at the Essex venue.

Trained by David Mullins for Roy Swaby and the Lodge of XV Racing Syndicate, the June 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Swabys Distance had posted the fastest time in the semi-finals but still went off a 10-1 chance for the £1,500 decider. However, a fast start soon had his rivals under pressure over the 400m trip.

Racing to a 3.62sec split and taking advantage as hot favourite Hawkfield Mia (Patrick Janssens) just stumbled on exiting the traps, Exve Prince was away and on his way to a four-length success over Annadown King (Mark Wallis) to clock a fast 23.70sec (+10), with Hawkfield Mia recovering well to finish third.

A delighted Roy Swaby told RPGTV: “Exve Prince is part of the Lodge of XV Racing Syndicate along with Exve Delta. I tipped him to the syndicate last week in the semis as he had a vacant trap inside him – and I also tipped him up for the final along with Hawkfield Mia, as I thought she’d clear the path for him round the first bend.”

Mark Arkell, Romford racing manager, added: “That was a fantastic run for Exve Prince and well deserved given what he’d done in the semis. Connections will have been delighted. It was another cracking win here for David (Mullins), plus the owners’ good run continues. They’ve also got Exve Delta and he was our Dog of the Year.

“Prince was probably over-priced on his semi-final run, but we all know how fast Mia is and she was just unfortunate on the night, but take nothing way from the winner. He’s in great form and loves to dominate his races. When he does, you know it takes a good one to pick him up – if at all. Not when you can clock 23.70sec!

“It was great to see this three-round event go down so well. We had a really good entry with some real Romford specialists and it’s the perfect event to build up to the Coral Golden Sprint. We’ve had the Bonanza Standard, the Essex Vase and the Maiden Trophy which has made for some cracking Fridays here – and we’ve more to come.

“We’ll have more Golden Sprint trial stakes coming up, then the main event itself, which will run alongside the Coral Coronation Cup for a Category One double-header. The heats of both competitions take place here on March 3.”

Romford reminds trainers that entries for the Coral Golden Sprint and Coral Coronation Cup close to entries at noon on February, February 28.

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=393913&raceId=912703