CENTRAL PARK staged six heats of the Ladbrokes Kent Derby on Sunday – with King Lennon and ante-post favourite Bockos Doomie the undoubted star turns as both scored impressive wins as the Category One annual opened up.

The Liz McNair-trained King Lennon in heat two was quickest and clockwatchers would note his 28.90sec (-40) winning time compared favourably with Coolavanny Bert’s track record for the 480m trip – the calculated time equalling the best ever.

Initiating a double for Central Park handler McNair – litter brother King Dylan won the very next heat in 29.14sec – King Lennon also proved he is thriving on his current schedule with a place in Thursday’s BGBF Northern Plate Final at Newcastle next up.

“He’s loving it and is such a cool customer he’s never been better,” said Rab McNair, husband of the trainer, who was also full of praise for his Produce Stakes third King Dylan after he made all in heat two.

“Dylan’s been off and really hasn’t had much work, but they’ve always been a strong litter and handled it well. We won the Kent Derby with Turbo last year and hopefully we can get a finalist this year again – but there’s work to do in the semis.”

McNair also had news of Queen Beyonce, another littermate who made the semi-finals of the Derby but has been recently sidelined. She is due to have a handslip this week and will be aimed at the Oaks – and McNair is keen on hearing details of that event soon.

“We have one or two bitches who’d be Oaks contenders, so hopefully we will some positive news soon. These major races are what drives us all on – just look at Len Ponder at the weekend with Lenson Bocko in the Irish Derby!

“Myself and Liz were delighted for them all, but Lenny especially. He’s been in the game many years, has seen the ups and downs, but it’s the highs which we all race for. They were great scenes at Shelbourne and no doubt he’ll be looking to win the English Derby now!

“That’s great and all I can say to Lenny and Graham (Holland) is bring it on – we’ll be ready for you guys and look forward to doing battle again! It’s what this sport is all about – and for us we’re looking forward to more big races at Newcastle on Thursday and Central Park on Sunday.”

Bockos Doomie, the ante-post favourite, kicked off his campaign with victory in heat five – completing a great 48 hours for his owners Bev Lochead, Graham Box and Austin Whelan after their Irish Derby victory with Len and Pat Ponder with Lenson Bocko.

The Patrick Janssens-trained runner scored in 29.22sec after riding a first-bend bump to lead, while the other heats were won by Stuart Maplesden’s Fayes Jet (29.03sec), Spencer Mavrias’s Melodys Secret (29.56sec) and Emma Richards’ Fitenwell (29.12sec).

Dan Homewood, Central Park’s deputy racing manager, said: “It was an eventful night’s racing, with lots of quality performances but also a dead-heat for third which means Kentish Prince and Droopys Denny will trial-off on Wednesday.

“I thought Bockos Doomie was impressive, but also King Lennon. His calculated time matched the track record here, so that says it all. Overall we’re very happy. It was a great entry, full of quality, and we can look forward to there hot semi-finals here on Sunday.”