QUEEN PINK saved the best for last with a runaway victory in heat eight of the Bet365 Puppy Oaks at Towcester on Sunday – posting the fastest first-round time in the process.

 

The Liz McNair-trained Coral Romford Puppy Cup third, a January 2021 daughter of King Sheeran and King Danni, paced up well before riding a bump at the turn before going on and quickly settling the issue, racing away to score by eight lengths from the Kevin Hutton-trained pair of Beatties Sparkle and Tracey Went Mad in 29.68sec (-10) for the 500m trip.

 

Next quickest was the Frank Gray-trained local hope Makeit Swallow who produced a strong-running and game performance to land the spoils in heat six.

 

Pacing up well to the bend, the March 2021 daughter of Pestana and Cracked Lady was then passed by My Girl Mia (Seamus Cahill) before coming again close home to edge the Hove raider by a neck, with Lively Lauren (Matt Dartnall) qualifying in third. The winning time was a fast 29.73sec (-10).

 

My Girl Bella, a litter sister of heat six runner-up My Girl Mia, went one better for the Seamus Cahill team in heat three as the March 2021 daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Lightfoot Feery quickly raced clear to win by five and a half lengths from the Patrick Janssens-trained pair of Noelles Perfetto and Fabulous Lynx in 29.76sec (-10).

 

Also impressing on her UK debut was Bubbly Bluebelle as Paul Matthews’ Irish raider, a February 2021 daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Jaytee Sahara, edged favourite Ballymac Mags (Angie Kibble) to the bend in heat seven before crossing the line a length and three-quarters clear of that rival in 29.77sec (-10). Aero Wilma (Arran Dunn) was third here.

 

The other Bet365 Puppy Oaks heats were won by Marlene Westwood’s Petroma May (30.61sec -60), Barrie Draper’s Slaneyside Frend (30.24sec -30), Gary Griffiths’ Agilis Faith (30.31sec -10) and Jamie Kingsley’s Droopys Joan (30.09sec -10).

 

Towcester spokesman and consultant Nathan Corden said: “It was a really good start to the Bet365 Puppy Oaks – and great to see the event back on the Calendar. The Puppy Oaks had a great history at Wimbledon, so we here at Towcester were delighted that Bet365 stepped in to return this brilliant competition to the schedule.

 

“It was really encouraging to see the competition oversubscribed and 48 has now become 24 thanks to the format that all owners and trainers wish to see – with the first three qualifying in all rounds.

 

“Queen Pink set the standard with a fastest-of-the-day 29.68sec with Makeit Swallow, a Greyhound Trader sales purchase here at Towcester in July, second fastest. Other notable heat winners included Paul Matthews’ Irish raider Bubbly Bluebelle, running for The Champagne Club, and Seamus Cahill’s My Girl Bella.”

 

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=390864&raceId=887722