ALASKAN DAWN was quickest in the heats of the Ladbrokes Kent St Leger on Saturday as Crayford launched a double-header of big race events.

The 714m Kent St Leger heats were supported by heats of the Ladbrokes Guys & Dolls over 380m on a superb night’s open-racing at the Kent venue – with Heather Dimmock’s dog proving one of the star turns.

An eight-length success in heat five of the Ladbrokes Kent St Leger delighted not just favourite backers but his trainer, who has brought the May 2018 son of Confident Rankin and Volcano back to his best after injury.

Always highly rated, this brother of marathon star Savana Volcano and half-brother of Dimmock’s 2020 Winter Derby winner Volcanic Reef has been gradually stepped up in distance since his return and continues to impress.

Always handy after showing good early pace, Alaskan Dawn rode a first-bend bump to take up the running at the third bend on his way to a runaway victory – crossing the line clear of Deadly Do Lago (Simon Harms) in 45.25sec (normal).

The winning trainer said: “Pat Dalton, his breeder, always said he had the ability and would be potentially a decent stayer, but he picked up a fractured hock when second behind Queen Jessiej at Monmore last summer.

“Then in his first race back in a heat of the Blue Riband at Towcester he split a web, so that was another few weeks off,” explained Dimmock. “We then stepped him up to 575m at Romford and he did well there, winning a maiden 575m final in a good clock.

“Yarmouth for their St Leger didn’t really suit, he never looked comfortable there but he seems to relish the trip and the Crayford track itself, so fingers crossed ahead of the semi-finals now, but we’re very happy with him.”

Next quickest was Mays Sabbath as Patrick Janssens’ bitch made it three wins from six starts in her UK career as she came again on the run for home to win by a length and a quarter from Pakistan Star (Marcus Smith) in 45.47sec (normal) for the two laps.”

The other Ladbrokes Kent St Leger heats were won by Mark Wallis’s Bo Shine Bullet (45.60sec -20), Samantha West’s Ragtime Arthur (45.98sec -20), John Mullins’ Nightingale Don (45.70sec) and Dan Brabon’s Blue Tick Jenny (45.79sec).

Crayford’s deputy racing manager Graham Banks, who oversaw a strong social media offering from Crayford on the night, said: “We had plenty of good feedback on social media during and after the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket.

“We hosted pre-racing videos and interviews with the trainers and kennelhands and it’s something we’re looking to do more of when possible in the future with the graded racing, not just for the open-race competitions.

“Obviously it helps that everyone when asked for a quick chat are more than happy to do so and that’s been the case so far in the Kent St Leger and Guys & Dolls.

“Obviously on the clock in the Leger Mays Sabbath and Alaskan Dawn impressed. They didn’t get things all their own way early but ran out good winners at the end and should have a good battle in the semi-finals.

“Bo Shine Bullet was another visually impressive winner, making all the running when the track was slightly slower. It’s good to see a few local runners qualifying and hopefully we can get a couple at least into the final.”

 

Trap draw for Saturday’s semi-finals:-

First semi: 1 Blue Tick Jenny, 2 Droopys Bird, 3 Ragtime Arthur, 4 Bo Shine Bullet, 5 Droopys Dial (m), 6 Nightingale Don (m).

Second semi: 1 Pakistan Star, 2 Lemming Fly, 3 Slippy Mick, 4 Ragtime Flash (m), 5 Deadly Do Lago (m), 6 Swift Jaguar (w).

Third semi: 1 Alaskan Dawn, 2 Galaxy Star, 3 Troy Suzieeq, 4 Soho (m), 5 Fatboyz Trixie (m), 6 Mays Sabbath (w).