LITTER sisters Space Jet and Antigua Lava were high-profile heat winners as the inaugural WKH Development Services Diamond Stakes kicked off at Oxford on Friday.

The two-round GBGB Category One over 847m shared the stage with the heats of the BGBF British Bred Puppy Cup, with the more established stars turning on the style over the Cowley track’s eight-bend trip. Ultimately, less than a length separated both littermates from that superb February 2019 batch by Droopys Jet out of Volcano.

First up was Antigua Lava as the Mark Wallis-trained runner weaved her way through powerfully in heat one before hitting the front down the back-straight second time to score going away by nine and a quarter lengths from Wota Swell Party, who led at the halfway point, and Patsys Me Daddy (Tom Levers) in 53.30sec.

TV Trophy champion Space Jet was slower away from the traps in heat two and was halted in her tracks before once again proving too good for her rivals as Matt Dartnall’s win-machine powered through to score by six and a half lengths from Swindon’s Mohican Tara (Sean McDonald) and Beach Babe (Tom Levers) in 53.24sec.

Reflecting on the heats of the two competitions, Oxford racing manager Simon Pearson said: “It was good to provide the platform for two completely different generations and two different types distance-wise, with the pups doing their thing in the British Bred Puppy Cup and the marathon stars then putting on the style in the Diamond Stakes.

“Incidentally, thanks to the BGBF and to WKH Development Services for supporting these events which has helped us to a strong start to the open-race year here at Oxford.

“You’d have to say the three standout performers were Space Jet and Antigua Lava in the marathon and the very promising Romeo Atomic in the Puppy Cup.

“Jet and Lava had a great battle here just before Christmas last time with just a short-head separating the two sisters so we’re all looking forward to seeing that again. Marathons are always great spectacles.

“Romeo Atomic was just outstanding in winning his Puppy Cup heat and really could be anything you feel. I also felt that Jaffa ran very well first look at the track and he should improve for the run.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=393014&raceId=905301

Trap draw for Friday’s final: https://oxford-stadium.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OxFri20thJanAdvSheet.pdf