NEW DESTINY once again proved the star of the show in the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic at Monmore on Saturday.

Lining up in the first semi-final of the 630m annual having produced a magnificent comeback the previous week, Mark Wallis’s multiple big-race winner again piled on the pressure on her rivals from the get-go, getting first run on market rival Gary The Arb (Belinda Green) and being never headed thereafter as she came home four and a quarter lengths clear of the Hove tracker in 37.53sec (normal).

In winning, New Destiny secured a crack at yet another Category One title to add to those achieved in the Coral Coronation Cup, Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes, Arc Grand Prix and bet365 Challenge Cup – and initiated a semi-final double in the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic for her trainer given Vhagar later landed the third semi-final as she led home a Wallis one-two here.

Quickly away and always dominating, Vhagar also never looked likely to be caught as she crossed the line four and three-quarter lengths clear of kennelmate Bombay Nutty in 37.57sec (normal), giving Wallis three chances in the £10,000 decider.

He said: “I’m delighted with them all – the three in the stayers and Armagh Daithi in the Gold Cup. It gives us a chance in both, but you never count your chickens.

“It’s worked out well at Hove a couple of times now when they’ve staged two big races  and you never know. That said, we’ve never won the Gold Cup, although have won the Stayers Classic a couple of times.

“It’s been great to see New Destiny back on track and winning. Saturday’s race looked tough on paper with Belinda’s dog inside (Gary The Arb) but so often when she’s needed to she’s trapped and has incredible pace for a stayer really.

“She was unlucky in the Golden Jacket, going out in the semis getting shuffled wide, but the break after the Jacket and then Romford has done the trick. She’s the oldest runner in the field but is still running great and we couldn’t have asked for better in the draw.

“And we’ll also take the draws for Vhagar and Bombay Nutty and they’ve got chances if getting away. I’ve seen some big prices about Nutty – he’s so underrated and has run well in so many competitions for us. He’s in the shade somewhat of the two bitches but is a credit to the kennel.”

Clona Ice struck for Newcastle trainer Brian Fairbairn in the second semi-final of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic as the Corn Cuchulainn runner-up continued to impress early on in his UK career with a second success on these shores having struck at Newcastle on Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat Final night on home soil last month.

Finishing best of all, the young October 2023 son of Deerjet Sydney reeled in pace-setting Antigua Kestrel (Kevin Hutton) rounding the last bend to score by three and a half lengths in 38.03sec (normal) in what was a crowded affair, with hot favourite Romeo Empire (Patrick Janssens) missing out in third after being held up.

Trap draw for Saturday’s Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic 2025 Final: 1 New Destiny, 2 Antigua Kestrel, 3 Gary The Arb, 4 Clona Ice (m), 5 Vhagar (m), 6 Bombay Nutty (m).