PUNK ROCK DOLL landed Hove trainer Stuart Maplesden and part-owner Matt Christelow a second major Crayford title of 2021 as she blasted to a rapid-fire victory in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Guys & Dolls Final at the Kent venue.

On a fantastic night’s racing at Crayford which included the Ladbrokes Kent St Leger Final, chief support was the £3,000-to-the-winner Guys & Dolls – a unique event in the GBGB Calendar separating the dogs and bitches until the decider over 380m.

And it was a ‘Doll’, the aptly named Punk Rock Doll, who struck when it mattered most to add to the victory of Punk Rock Mutley for the same trainer and owner combination in the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket at Crayford earlier this year.

Breaking smartly, the August 2018 daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Jayne – part-owned by Matt Christelow and Tony O’Shaughnessy – quickly put her rivals on the back-foot as she raced into a clear lead and was never headed, winning by four lengths from Ballynabee Lucky (Samantha West) in a fast 23.00sec.

“I’d have loved her to break 23 seconds, but I think we’re settle for that!” joked winning trainer Maplesden afterwards. “We gave her a sprint trial at Hove in midweek just to keep her ticking over and the change of scenery certainly helped. She trapped well and we know how quick she is off the front.

“I’m just delighted that Matt (Christelow) was there after missing the Golden Jacket because of the Cover restrictions. His daughter actually picked out ‘Dolly’ when they flew to Ireland when she was only a couple of months old. They loved the way she was and, believe me, she does stand out – she’s quite a loon in the kennels!

“She’s always leaning against the door, stopping her kennelmate getting to it so she can have all the attention – maybe this proves you shouldn’t buy dogs on breeding, just maybe the way they are and their looks!

“No doubt Dolly’s a quick bitch but she likes to have the run round the first bend. We saw that in the [Welcome To Hope Jeal Trophy] final supporting the Golden Jacket where the trap five runner was all over her round the first and she backs off.

“But if she pops out she’ll not be caught and the 380m distance at Crayford is just nice for her. I hoped she’d improve on her trials before the event, which she has – and for her runs in the heats and semis. Those and her trial at Hove did the trick to just get her back after small injury and she got stronger and stronger.

“It’s great to win another major race at Crayford and thanks to all the team, but in particular  Adrian Laker who has done all the work on ‘Dolly’ this last week and its his first open-race competition win.”

Deputy racing manager Graham Banks was in charge of the social media output on the night which, on a busy evening given the quarter-finals of the Star Sports/TRC Derby at Towcester, gave the Kent venue a real presence on the various platforms.

Banks said: “Once again I must thank those who gave their time for interviews – and to those who liked and supported the tweets and content we put out. It makes the extra efforts worthwhile.

“Punk Rock Doll was hugely impressive when making all in the Guys & Dolls Final and his trainer Stuart Maplesden was a picture when he saw 23.00sec appear on the timing board – he really wanted that 22.99sec! But it was still some run.

“Bo Shine Bullet deserved her Kent St Leger victory because I know her owners were devastated when she was knocked over in the Golden Jacket after winning both heat and semi-final in such good fashion.

“All in all it was an excellent night’s racing. The feedback we got in terms of the variety we put on the card was very positive. It had everything.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=374745&raceId=752338