LAUTARO (pictured right) heads into next week’s first round as fastest of the Stadium Bookmakers Blue Riband runners after eight qualifying trial stakes for the first Category One competition of 2023 took place over 500m at Towcester on Sunday.

 

The Patrick Janssens-trained runner lined up against kennelmate Deelish Frankie in a red-hot second trial stakes but a sharper start from the eventual winner soon saw the February 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Boom Time in charge and he proceeded to run impressively throughout before leading home a Janssens one-two by three and a quarter lengths in 29.09sec. Romeo Mission (David Mullins) crossed the line in third here.

 

Lautaro’s victory completed a qualifying round double for the Janssens team after Romeo Top Cat landed the first trial stakes in 29.49sec, starting quickly before racing away to score by two lengths from Billis Tudor (Mark Wallis) and Romeo Mcqueen (Vicki Lea).

 

Champion trainer Mark Wallis later matched his great rival’s feat by sending out Antigua Bigun (30.01sec) and Hopes Paddington (29.34sec) for a Sunday afternoon double in the Blue Riband trial stakes, while Kevin Hutton also scored a brace of wins by fielding back-to-back winners in the form of Coppice Fox (29.30sec) and Signet Otis (29.48sec).

 

Last year’s English Derby runner-up Mr Chelm (ex Kildare) again showed his liking for the venue with a 29.59sec all-the-way success for John Mullins in the fourth trial stakes, while the  Mattie Richards-trained Overpaid (29.82sec) won his trial stakes, also for the locals.

 

Towcester consultant and spokesman Nathan Corden said: “I think it’s shaping for a brilliant first round proper of the Stadium Bookmakers Blue Riband – and, after yesterday’s races, it’s clear Patrick Janssens has a strong hand given Lautaro led home Deelish Frankie for a fastest-of-the-day. The winner posted a fast 4.11sec sectional, too.

 

“It was good to see Mattie Richards get on the scoresheet with Overpaid, who sprang an 11-1 surprise, albeit there was nothing fortunate about the victory as he led home Master Ten Ten and Frostys Ten.

 

“Kevin Hutton and Mark Wallis both had good Blue Riband doubles, as did Patrick Janssens – although Pat actually had a treble on the day given his Crossfield Riley landed a maiden in 29.54sec.

 

“All in all, it was a good day’s racing and, while it would be fair to say that things are still being fine-tuned after recent issues, Kevin (Boothby, promoter) is absolutely certain the team at Towcester will get it right. We are all keen on achieving the best Blue Riband possible and top-class open-racing overall here in 2023.

 

“The situation and issues surrounding the RPGTV English Puppy Derby were clearly not ideal, but absolutely no-one wanted it to end the way it did. Splitting the prize-money among connections of the finalists was the right thing to do and hopefully we can all move on now, with lessons very much learned.”

 

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=392796&raceId=903465