SLICK SAKINA was again quickest as the second round of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks took centre-stage at Perry Barr on Thursday.

 

On a night when the Birmingham track also staged heats of the Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup, the sprinters’ showpiece, it was the Patrick Janssens-trained runner who grabbed the headlines in heat five of the bitches’ Classic over 480m.

 

Completing a double in the Oaks heats for the Towcester handler, the July 2020 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Ring was again fast to stride and never looked in danger.

 

Racing to a slick 3.45sec sectional, the two-year-old was soon in command and crossed the line four and a half lengths clear of Distant Emma (Barrie Draper) and Bonjour Bullet (Belinda Green) in 28.18sec (-10).

 

Fabulous Azurra initiated the Janssens double in heat three, producing a customary strong-running effort as the bet365 Empress Stakes winner overcame early crowding to power to a two and three-quarter lengths victory in 28.29sec (-10).

 

Qualifying in behind the litter sister of English Derby champion Romeo Magico were Front Pasha (Kevin Proctor) and Ratchies Saphire (Simon Deakin).

 

Kevin Hutton enjoyed a mixed night with a 28.51sec victory for Westwell Emer in heat four – kennelmate Droopys Samantha qualified from the same heat – and Moments Of Magic also making it through to the semis. However, the Oxford handler had earlier seen longtime leader Coppice Josie ease to a virtual standstill when leading in heat one.

 

Hutton said: “I thought the team ran well. Emer just keeps improving and took another step up in class nicely, while Magic is just very hard to keep out of the frame and is also running the track better each time.

 

“As for Josie, she checked out perfectly and, although we don’t know why, she just went unsighted. She has a big future ahead, so we’ll draw a line under it and press on.

 

“It’s a very good Oaks so no surprise to see three high-quality semi-finals and ours will need to be at their best to qualify.”

 

Angie Kibble’s Ballymac Intent (28.66sec -10) struck in heat one, just edging out Mustang Kim (Gerry Ballentine) in a thriller; Pat Doocey’s Longacres Queen (28.53sec -10) made it two-from-two in the UK in heat two when holding Global Prima (Patrick Janssens), while Marlene Westwood’s Orange Josie (28.67sec -10) made all in heat six.

 

Fastest in the Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup was the 15.91sec (-5) clocked by the Eric Cantillon-trained Newtown Sydney in heat one.

  

Trap draw for Thursday’s semi-finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks and Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup: https://www.perrybarr-greyhounds.co.uk/racing/

 

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=389964&raceId=880175