NEW DESTINY has her sights set on another major Romford title after racing away for a fastest-of-the-night success in the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes heats – and lines up in Friday’s semis as a hot favourite to land the £10,000 prize next week.

Champion Stakes final night at the London Road circuit will be the feature event on the second Gone To The Dogs – Live! broadcast after the success of Yarmouth’s East Anglian Derby Final and Romford RM Mark Arkell is anticipating another strong card at the track.

“We had some great performances on Friday, but the semi-final draw has certainly thrown up some intriguing contests. New Destiny versus Aayamza Sydney looks a great clash in the second semi with kennelmates of both also in there.

“There’s no question both New Destiny and Aayamza Sydney have been two of the best 575m runenrs we’ve had round here this year – Sydney was second in the (Coral) Coronation Cup earlier this year. Incidentally, good to see the winner then Roxys Bullet for Paul Burr also in the semis – he goes in the first semi.

“It’ll be great to have the cameras here from the Gone To The Dogs team. I know there’s been plenty going on behind the scenes to build on what they did at Yarmouth – and for us it’ll be a great opportunity to showcase our Friday night open-race nights, especially.

“Everyone knows there’s always a decent atmosphere here Friday and Saturday nights and I’m sure that’ll come across – and we know the action on the track will be top-notch.”

New Destiny set the standard on first round night of the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes, making all to win by seven and a half lengths from Noirs News (Seamus Cahill) in 34.75sec (normal) – initiating a double for champion trainer Mark Wallis after Fabulous Sonique returned to winning ways in heat two.

A regular Romford winner, the British-bred was also soon in command for a five and a half lengths victory over Newcastle’s Syds Smurph (Savva Roberts) in 35.63sec (normal).

John Mullins also notched a Champion Stakes heat double in heats three and six respectively courtesy of Aayamza Sydney and Swift Depot.

A finalist in last week’s Birmingham Cup, Aayamza Sydney was soon handy and led off the second bend to score by eight and a half lengths from local hope Droopys Maybe (Paul Young) in 35.04sec (normal), while Yarmouth Derby finalist Swift Depot went clear early before winning by a length and a half from Golden Palace (Michelle Brown) in 35.43sec (normal).

Belinda Green’s Gary The Arb produced a strong-running display in heat four to grab leader and kennelmate Beaming Panther before going on for a four-length win over Drive On Lad (Richard Rees) in 35.27sec (normal), while Seamus Cahill’s Never Say No struck in heat five, making all before holding Droopys Vivacity (Gemma Evans) by a head in 35.35sec.

Trap draw for Friday’s Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes semi-finals:-

First semi-final: 1 Syds Smurph, 2 Glideaway Hugo, 3 Droopys Vivacity, 4 Golden Palace, 5 Roxys Bullet, 6 Noirs News (w).

Second semi-final: 1 Never Say No, 2 Aayamza Sydney, 3 New Destiny, 4 Littlers Nuke, 5 Elite Albert, 6 Ballymac Johnjo (w).

Third semi-final: 1 Droopys Maybe, 2 Drive On Lad, 3 Gary The Arb, 4 Nowitsmyturn, 5 Fabulous Sonique, 6 Swift Depot (m).