SLICK SAKINA (pictured, T5) set the standard in the first round of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks at Perry Barr on Thursday as Patrick Janssens took the training honours on the night.

 

A treble for the Towcester handler included victory for Slick Sakina, who raced to an all-the-way 28.17sec (-10) in heat seven. Well away, the July 2020 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Ring powered away to score by three and a quarter lengths from Front Pasha (Kevin Proctor) and Sleek By Design (Kevin Hutton).

 

The victory followed that of kennelmate Fabulous Azurra in heat five as the recent bet365 Empress Stakes winner herself scorched to another impressive win as a first-bend lead set up a four-length success over Shall We (Matt Dartnall) and Tullymurry Spell (Brian Thompson) in 28.19sec (-10).

 

The Janssens-trained Global Prima had earlier initiated a treble for the handler in the heats when kicking off the bitches’ Classic with success in heat one as the September 2019 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Katie rode at bump at the first bend before leading and going on to score by almost two lengths in 28.54sec (-10).

 

Kevin Hutton landed a quickfire double in heats three and four courtesy of Moments Of Magic (28.40sec -10) and Coppice Josie (28.64sec -10), after the Richard Rees-trained Whats Up Eva had landed the easiest victory on the night when racing away from her rivals in heat two to win by nine and a half lengths in 28.37sec (-10).

 

There was a sad postscript to heat ten with fatal injuries suffered by Antigua Cuddles (Mark Wallis) and Distant Wendy (Barrie Draper), with just two runners crossing the line. Angie Kibble’s Swindon tracker Ballymac Intent (28.66sec -10) was a six-length winner from Kildallon Tilly (Carol Weatherall) in a trouble-marred contest.

 

The remaining heats were won by Pat Doocey’s Longacres Queen (28.68sec -10) on UK debut; Barrie Draper’s Distant Emma 28.35sec (-10) for a three-timer for the Sheffield runner; Diane Henry’s down-in-trip JenningsBet Select Stakes winner Savana Ruinart (28.73sec -10) and back-to back triumphs for six-bend winners in Kevin Boon’s Bettys Book (28.37sec -10) and Mark Wallis’s Sweet Pear (28.60sec -10).

 

Perry Barr racing manager Martin Seal said: “Of course the first thing to say is our deepest sympathy and best wishes to the connections of both Antigua Cuddles and Distant Wendy – and to their trainers Mark Wallis and Barrie Draper. This really was a freakish situation – and not a happy ending at all and it shook us all up.

 

“In terms of qualification, because just two runners finished the course – Ballymac Intent and Kildallon Tilly – only they were included in the draw which means we have a vacant trap in one of the six second-round heats. It was a very unusual occurrence and we sought clarification from the the GBGB before proceeding with the draw.

 

“Well done to Patrick Janssens for his treble on the night and to Kevin Hutton for his double, while I thought from top to bottom the quality of bitches on show was top notch with both younger and older, more experienced runners shining on the night.”

 

Trap draw for Thursday’s second round: https://www.perrybarr-greyhounds.co.uk/racing/

 

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=389783&raceId=879156