QUEEN JONI has her sights set on another major triumph in the space of just weeks after a brilliant fastest-of-the-night success in the first round of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks at Perry Barr on Saturday.

Liz McNair’s home-bred recently landed the Seventy Seventh Produce Stakes at Swindon, setting a new track record at the Blunsdon track in the semi-finals of the British-bred showpiece before following up in the final, and was in imperious form once again in heat five at the Birmingham track at the weekend.

Still a puppy, of course, the December 2021 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Queen Jessiej was soon clear off a fast start and was never headed as the KSS Syndicate-owned star raced away for a runaway standard-setting eight-length success from Baywatch Bullet (Belinda Green) in 27.90sec (normal) for the 480m trip.

Quickest of 12 heat winners of the bitches’ Classic, Queen Joni is clear favourite for the £20,000 prize on October 28 and will line up in heat four in Saturday’s second round against fellow first-round winners No Rush, Droopys Ailsa and Crossfield Maxi.

The latter helped complete a double for Hove trainer Richard Rees in the first round as a first-bend lead set up a neck and a short-head victory over Havana Bale Out (Liz McNair) and Droopys Fidget (Nathan Hunt) in a cracking finish to heat eight. The winning time was 28.63sec.

The Rees double had been initiated by the superb Whats Up Eva (28.19sec), the 2022 Brighton Belle champion, in heat four, while this year’s Brighton Belle winner Betsys Bullet edged out Coonough Crow (Mark Wallis) in another close finish to heat seven, Belinda Green’s bitch winning in 28.31sec (normal).

Barry Denby also landed a double on the night as Keane made all for a 16-1 success in heat nine in 28.30sec, before Bellmore Lola finished best for a two-length success over kennelmate Kilbarry Meadows for a superb one-two for the Nottingham trainer, the former stopping the clock in 28.37sec.

Matching the Oaks first round double feat of Richard Rees and Barry Denby was Nathan Hunt as his Antigua Bingo landed heat two in a fast 27.99sec, denying hotpot Queen Shakira (Liz McNair) in the process, before Allowdale Cazoo took heat 12 in strong-running style, coming home clear of nearest rival Lakeside Lady (Shirley Aveline) in 28.25sec.

Brighton Belle finalist No Rush struck for Carol Weatherall in heat three, posting a slick 28.03sec (normal), while Irish success was notched by the Robert Gleeson-trained Droopys Ailsa in heat ten with a facile all-the-way victory in 28.15sec (normal).

Laughill Jess’s victory in heat six was noteworthy given Dave Lee’s bitch was extending her winning sequence to 13 as a trademark burst of early pace secured an early lead before the Crayford runner held the challenge of Leighas Dream (Barry Denby) by a short-head in 28.30sec (normal).

The opening heat went to Kevin Hutton’s Jet Stream Angel who was always handy before edging favourite Charming Girl by a neck in 28.46sec (normal).

Perry Barr racing manager Martin Seal said: “Despite falling short of the required 72 entries, which was very disappointing, I was delighted with the standard of racing for the first round of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks here on Saturday.

“There was plenty of quality on show and, clearly, the bitches’ Classic still means an awful lot to plenty of connections and I’m sure the remaining rounds will provide everyone with some thrilling fare. Roll on Saturday for the second round.”