PROPER HEIRESS heads into Saturday’s final of the Ladbrokes Winter Derby at Monmore as the quickest semi-final winner after a blistering run in the first semi at the Wolverhampton track at the weekend.

Mark Wallis’s dog was soon in charge, a fast start helping the September 2022  son of Droopys Sydney and Powerful Mush overcome a rare trap six pitch in a field of railers in a event dominated by inside runners. However, soon clear and able to tack across as the bend approached, Proper Heiress was away and on his way to victory.

Keeping up the gallop to the line, the Coral Olympic champion crossed the line two lengths clear of the running-on Droopys Suprstar (Mike Burton) in a fast 27.97sec (normal) for the 480m trip, the pair sealing their places in Saturday’s £10,000 decider.

The second semi-final went to the strong-running Gary The Arb as Belinda Green’s powerhouse came through against the fence to catch leader Romeo Steel (Patrick Janssens) before hitting the line a length and three-quarters from the staying-on Aayamza Sydney (John Mullins), the latter reaching yet another big-race final.

Maxine Locke made sure of another Category One finalist this week as her Droopys Pivotel finished fastest of all to grab gold in a driving finish to the third semi-final, narrowly denying Nowitsmyturn (Richard Rees) and longtime leader Keefill Rocky (Phil Milner) – the first-named pair qualifying for the Category One showpiece.

Saturday’s Ladbrokes Winter Derby Final and supporting card at Monmore will be broadcast on YouTube via the Gone To The Dogs – Live! channel and Joe Edwards, communications manager at the track, is looking forward to the big night.

“The Ladbrokes Winter Derby is always a classy affair and we’ve got another great final to  forward to,” he said. “Proper Heiress has the edge on the clock and eyes a second Category One title, but look at the quality in against him.

“We’ve got another big-race winner in Aayamza Sydney, a Derby semi-finalist in Droopys Pivotel, plus other top-class sorts in Gary The Arb, who’s absolutely flying just now, Droopys Suprstar and Nowitsmyturn, both of whom just never give up.

“It’ll also be great to have the team from Gone To The Dogs here. We’ve seen their shows and enjoyed them – and hopefully we’ll have a pretty decent crowd here on Saturday. The weather’s taking a turn for the better – certainly in terms of temperature – so hopefully people come out and enjoy their evening here.”

Trap draw for Saturday’s Ladbrokes Winter Derby Final: 1 Gary The Arb, 2 Aayamza Sydney, 3 Droopys Pivotel, 4 Proper Heiress, 5 Droopys Suprstar, 6 Nowitsmyturn.