MAKEIT FOR WAZ landed a popular home-trained success in the final of the Madri Exceptional Ladies Stakes, a Category Two event supporting the Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby Final at Towcester on Saturday.

The Frank Gray-trained February 2020 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Alien Nipper was quickly away along with Old Fort Chicago (Kevin Boon) and was always just showing in front once the pair headed into the first bend of the 500m contest.

Thereafter, the Makeit Syndicate-owned runner held the advantage over her rival to score by half a length in 29.55sec (normal), so confirming the form of their semi-final clash. Favourite Coolavanny Aunty (Angela Harrison) ran on well to finish third.

Makeit For Waz, whose only wins at Towcester had been in A4, had made a splash in the Greyhound Derby itself having come into the 192-runner event as a reserve before finishing second in the first round of the Classic to Bockos Vieira.

The two-year-old then won her second-round heat at odds of 14-1 before exiting the third round behind Signet Goofy which paved the way for an entry into the bitches-only competition, which the local hope ultimately struck gold in.

Winning trainer Frank Gray said: “We knew she could do it, because when she’s in this sort of form you can’t keep her down.

“Everything I’ve asked of her in the last couple of weeks she’s had the answers and I’m just pleased for the owners and pleased for her – she’s overcome a really bad draw on paper to win a good final on a massive night.

“She’d won a Crayford final over 540m from trap five by trapping in front and making all so we knew if she could ping out it might be the same again – we’re over the moon.”

Towcester also re-introduced hurdles racing at the venue on Derby final night with the one-off RPGTV Supreme Hurdle over 500m which went to the Barry O’Sullivan-trained Bobbing Gnavatar for the Bobbing Along Syndicate.

Well away, the September 2019 son of Sh Avatar and Muchas Gracias was always bossing proceedings and held the keeping-on Runwild Teddy (Jim Reynolds) to win by a head in 30.49sec, with favourite Skywalker Tiktok (Ricky Holloway) back in third.

Winning trainer Barry O’Sullivan said: “I’m delighted for the dog and the owners – but also delighted I came here tonight. I’ve seen some people I’ve not seen in many years – some old friends and faces. It’s been fantastic and this has just topped it off.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=386449&raceId=851876