ROMFORD trainer Maxine Locke has achieved the notable feat of qualifying three runners through to Thursday’s Arena Racing Company Northern Puppy Derby Final at Newcastle – but agrees they all have the the brilliant Irish raider Droopys Deploy to beat.

Robert Gleeson’s Droopys Deploy blasted to a rapid 28.10sec (normal) when making all in the second semi-final, a 4.52sec sectional setting up an all-the-way victory in the best of the three semis. The National Puppy Stake finalist scored by five lengths from running-on Ballymac Axel (Maxine Locke), with the winner’s kennelmate Toolmaker Quick just missing out in third.

Droopys Deploy is an April 2023 son of Malachi and Droopys Charm and, somewhat ironically, is a half-brother of Locke’s Coral Essex Vase-winning kennel star Droopys Eunice. 

Droopys Deploy’s victory for Ireland was sandwiched between two Maxine Locke-trained winners of the other semi-finals of the £12,500-to-the-winner Category One as Yahoo Maizy and Ballymac Lucia both justified short-priced favouritism.

Ballymac Lucia was led up by littermates Greenwell Crazy and Greenwell Tyson in the first semi as the John Flaherty-trained pair looked to escape the pack. However, the strong-running English Puppy Derby finalist, a May 2023 daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Merkle, hit top gear down the far side and swooped round the outside of her rivals off the last bend on her way for a one and three-quarter lengths success over Greenwell Tyson in 28.55sec (normal).

Locke’s double was landed by Yahoo Maizy in the third semi-final as the English Puppy Oaks winner, a May 2023 daughter of Ballyhimkin Jet and Yahoo Diva, was well away, posting a fastest-of-the-session 4.50sec split on her way to a two and a half length success over Swift Bullseye (Ray Hale) in 28.50sec (normal). The latter narrowly denied trackmate Innfield Pepe (Tom Heilbron) a place in Thursday’s 480m decider. 

Winning trainer Maxine Locke was naturally delighted to be well represented in the Newcastle final, with another big-race finalist in the shape of Droopys Pivotel in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Winter Derby making for a busy weekend ahead for the Essex-based handler.

Concentrating on the Newcastle final here, Locke said: “It’s fantastic for the kennel to get them through but we know it’s going to be tough to beat Droopys Deploy – that was some run in the semis.

“However I’m really proud of our three, especially the two girls who’ve done great to qualify against the boys, although Lucia has already done that in the Puppy Derby at Towcester. She’s a tough sort, for sure, and never gives up.

“They’ve got to do every right but it’s a nice position to be in. Hopefully, Maizy gets a good break to put herself in the picture, while we know Axel and Lucia will be running on well. We managed two finalists last year, so to get three into the final this year is great. 

“I really want to thank our Jo Ramsay again. She’s been racking up the miles, doing the trips to the north east, and will again be on the road early on Thursday, although she’ll certainly have plenty of company up there this week!”

Trap draw for Thursday’s Arena Racing Company Northern Puppy Derby Final: 1 Ballymac Lucia, 2 Droopys Deploy (m), 3 Ballymac Axel (m), 4 Yahoo Maizy (m), 5 Swift Bullseye (w), 6 Greenwell Tyson (w).