JURASSIC ROSE justified favouritism in the first semi-final of the Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch at Central Park on Sunday to continue trainer Tony Collett’s fine start to the open-race year.

The local handler landed a double at Crayford the previous morning and now sent out the

August 2019 daughter of Out Of Range ASB and Got The Edge to strike gold with a trap-to-line success in her semi-final of the first GBGB Category One competition of 2023 – and the first time Central Park has hosted the Cesarewitch.

Racing to a 16.69sec split, Jurassic Rose was soon in front of Close The Sky (Paul Young) and, while the latter kept up the pressure, the eventual winner maintained her unbeaten record in the 708m event by making all from the Romford raider in 45.30sec (normal). Fastest first-round scorer Farneys Chloe (Kevin Boon) was a staying-on close-up third.

The Seamus Cahill-trained Slaneyside Harvy landed a 20-1 surprise win in the second semi-final, although there was nothing lucky about the victory of the August 2020 son of Good News and Slaneyside Misty.

Bumped at the bend as Cochise (Richard Rees) set the early tempo, Slaneyside Harvy conjured a strong-running challenge to keep tabs with the leader and soon-handy Luna Jezabelle (Keith Robins) before finishing the stronger to edge out Luna Jezabelle by a short-head in 45.73sec, with Cochise a close-up third qualifying for Sunday’s £12,500 final.

Slaneyside Harvy’s performance delighted part-owner, RPGTV’s Dave Lawrence, who said: “You have to say I was gobsmacked when Harvy came with a late rattle to get up and win his semi! I didn’t have a penny on him but I thought he ran a brilliant race and I’m really looking forward to being at the track to cheer him on in Sunday’s final.

“It’s a Category One final which is what it’s all about for me and I’m hoping lightning might strike twice because my last Cat One winner was at Central Park when Forest Alan won the 2019 Kent Derby!

“Harvy’s has been a source of huge frustration to Seamus, myself and my fellow owners Tony Camsell, Damian Teevan and Teresa Cahill. He was bought for good money to be a Derby contender and showed promise in puppy races at Monmore and Hove but went 14 races before winning.

“However, staying looks to be his game and all will be forgiven if he can win the Cesarewitch final on Sunday!”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=392729&raceId=902863

Trap draw for Sunday’s final: https://www.centralparkstadium.co.uk/assets/uploaded/files/documents/sunday-15th-january-cesarewitch-final.pdf