PERRY BARR kicked off the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger with six heats over 710m on Saturday – and the major talking points after racing were divided between the elimination of Space Jet, a fastest-of-the-night performance from Droopys Clue, three littermates winning their heats, and a good start for a strong Irish entry.

Space Jet, Matt Dartnall’s St Leger winner two years ago, broke well in heat four but was unable to hold her position into the turn and, badly crowded, could manage only fifth in a heat in which Ireland’s Garfiney Blaze struck for Graham Holland, leading at the first bend before making all to score by almost five lengths in 42.98sec (normal).

In leading home Teds Dexter (Nathan Hunt) and Savana Heross (Diane Henry), the September 2021 son of Ballymac Anton and Ballymac Merkle completed a litter hat-trick after earlier, brilliant victories for litter sisters Ballymac Katie (pictured) and Ballymac Taylor.

Ballymac Katie, a superb winner on Irish Derby final night, launched her English St Leger campaign in impressive style in heat one as the Liam Dowling-bred, owned and trained runner finished best to reel in Savana Jazz (Diane Henry) and Lightfoot Clark (Jimmy Fenwick) on the run for home for a length and a quarter win in 43.46sec (normal).

It was then the turn of the Mark Wallis-trained Ballymac Taylor to shine in heat three as a customary powerful finish saw the two-year-old, just out of puppy stage along with her littermates, catch Cooladerry Habs (Richie Taberner) for a two and a quarter length win in 43.64sec (normal). Tory Bellatrix (Mark Newberry) qualified in third here.

Jacktavern Bella had earlier initiated a St Leger heat double for dual English Derby-winning trainer Graham Holland in heat two as the August 2020 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Lemon Ariana came through an earlier duel with defending champion Havana Lover (Liz McNair) for a six and a half length win in 43.22sec (normal). Snooty Rose (Craig Williams) finished third here.

Biggest-priced winner in the St Leger heats was the Pat Curtin-trained Millridge Tanic as the recent JenningsBet Select Stayers third (to Space Jet) broke in front and made every metre as the March 2021 son of Good News and Millridge Dame landed odds of 22-1 when leading home Ballymac Mags (Angie Kibble) and Longacres Santa (Pat Doocey).

The winning time was 43.05sec (normal) and the winning distance four lengths.

Fastest of the night over the Birmingham track’s 710m trip was Seamus Cahill’s Droopys Clue as the recent Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic runner-up saved the best for last in heat six as a burst of early pace set up a fastest-of-the-night 16.22sec sectional and a runaway six lengths-plus all-the-way success in a standard-setting 42.76sec winning time.

Coonough Crow (Mark Wallis) just edged out Lively Lauren (Matt Dartnall) for second place, albeit both line-up in Saturday’s semi-finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger which will once again share the stage with the M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup In Memory of Michael Lambe Senior, another GBGB Category One event.

Perry Barr racing manager Martin Seal said: “It was disappointing to see Space Jet go out. She just got caught up and it was sheer bad luck, but we still have some incredible Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger semi-finals to look forward to the race to be champion stayer, given we have most of the best six-bend greyhounds in England and Ireland here.

“I always thought having such a strong Irish entry for the St Leger was the cherry on top of an already mouthwatering cake – and the runners from Graham Holland and Liam Dowling’s kennels did not disappoint and I’m sure both Graham and Liam are looking to repeat what Brendan Maunsell did with Redzer Ardfert here in 2019 when becoming the first Irish-trained winner of the English St Leger.”

Trap draw for Saturday’s Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger semi-finals: https://www.perrybarr-greyhounds.co.uk/racing/