MAGICAL LUKA heads in Friday’s semi-finals of the Coral Romford Puppy Cup as the joint-track record holder of the Essex track’s 400m trip and a member of a select group of precocious stars to have lit up the London Road venue during racing manager’s Mark Arkell’s time there.

“He’d be right up there along with the likes of Roxholme Nidge, King Elvis, Eden Star and Rayvin Giovanni,” said Arkell after Kevin Hutton’s dog, who he trains in the UK for his Irish handler Pat Guilfoyle, raced to a breathtaking 23.26sec (+20) in heat four of the £10,000-to-the-winner Category One.

Soon in charge off a fast start, a 3.58sec sectional set up an eight and a quarter lengths success over Tasty Turkish (Gemma Evans) to make it three out of three at Romford and vindicate his position as ante-post favourite.

“He was certainly the shortest-priced favourite going into a Puppy Cup I can remember,” added Arkell, “and crazily he just seems to be getting better even after two real quick runs in heat and final of an event the previous week.

“To clock 23.26sec is superb and puts him in that top bracket. I suppose he might be on his own if he was to break the record, but I’m sure connections are happy where they’re at heading into the semi-finals.”

Arkell said he was delighted overall with the quality of this year’s Coral Romford Puppy Cup.

He said: “I know some tracks and events have struggled to get the numbers but we’ve been okay in terms of our Cat Ones and we had a full quota for the Puppy Cup – and I’m sure there’s some youngsters in there ready to pounce given the chance.

“We know Romford can be unforgiving of missed breaks and there’s plenty of runners with lots of speed up, so there’s of course still plenty to play for.

“Magical Luka aside I thought Monmore’s Aero Najem ran really well off the front, showing great speed to the bend, and Richie Taberner and his team will be hopeful heading into the semi-finals.”

The latest renewal of the Coral Romford Puppy Cup began with success for the John Mullins-trained Ted On Fire who led on the run to the bend before racing clear for a three lengths win over Underground Fizz in 23.84sec (+20).

The latter’s trainer Paul Young fielded heat two winner Bowmers Sheeran (23.85sec +20) before later wins for Richie Taberner’s Aero Najem (23.86sec +20), Martyn Wiley’s Blackburnybullet (24.39sec +20) and a last-gasp victory for Craig Morris’s March On Luna (24.04sec +20).

Trap draw for Friday’s semis:

First semi: 1 Vermithor, 2 Tasty Turkish, 3 March On Luna (m), 4 Jazzy George (m), 5 Magical Luka (m), 6 Stormy Pat (w).

Second semi: 1 Droopys Alldeway, 2 Droopys Tiffany, 3 Aero Najem (m), 4 Bowmers Sheeran (m), 5 Ted On Fire (m), 6 Feeling The Love (w).

Third semi: 1 Underground Fizz, 2 Blackburnybullet, 3 Scooby Diamond (m), 4 Jacktavern Don (m), 5 Crafty Santino (m), 6 Bluey Bullet (w).

 

Photos: © Steve Nash