MICKYS BARRETT underlined his standing as one of the most popular performers in training with a brilliant victory in the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup at Newcastle on Tuesday.

 

Trained by Nottingham’s Jason Gray for the Micky Barrett Syndicate, the March 2020 son of Out Of Range ASB and The Other Tessa was soon in pole position in the £20,000-to-the-winner showpiece after trapping well and pacing up to edge Scottish raider Paisley Pearl (Neil Brown) on the run to the first bend.

 

With market rival Swift Iconic (John Mullins) missing the start before pacing up into first-bend crowding, the way was clear for Mickys Barrett to streak clear and he never looked in any danger, crossing the line five and a half lengths clear of strong-finishing Killieford Defoe (Neil Black) and Paisley Pearl in a slick 28.55sec (-20) for the 480m trip.

 

Victory for the Star Sports English Greyhound Derby third secured the Category One glory connections had always hoped for – especially after also making the finals of both the Arena Racing Company Northern Puppy Derby (behind Freedom Alibi) in February and the Arc Northern Flat in March, where he finished second to Jaguar Macie.

 

“So I suppose you can say it was third time lucky for Mickys Barrett here at Newcastle, although there was nothing lucky about the performance on the night!” said Newcastle general manager Ian Walton.

 

He added: “He was absolutely brilliant throughout the event. He ran a cracker in the heats, finishing close-up behind Mr Chelm and was then involved in one of the races of the year in my opinion in the semi-finals with Swift Iconic. They went head to head throughout and it was a brilliant greyhound race between two top-class sorts.

 

“Mickys Barrett then improved again in the final, as you always felt he might. It’s been a great training performance from Jason (Gray) to bring him to his best for final night – remember the calculated time of 28.35sec was the fastest of the competition, so we’re again talking top quality.

 

“To reach the Derby final at Towcester, finishing third only to Romeo Magico and Kildare, now Mr Chelm, as well as reaching two Cat One finals here surely makes him deserving of some sort of recognition at the Greyhound of the Year Awards – he’s got to be up there.

 

“I’m also not sure there’s a more popular open-race greyhound in training. He had that huge support at Towcester and the story which emerged around that time about how connections named him after their late friend really caught the racing public’s imagination – and his large group of owners know how to enjoy themselves!

 

“We saw them here during the Northern Puppy Derby and the Northern Flat – and they were great through the Al England Cup – but Tuesday topped that, and some! Well done to all concerned and thanks to all the trainers and owners who supported this year’s Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup. It was a top-class event this year.”

 

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=392488&raceId=900676