COOLAVANNY AUNTY led home Bellmore Sally for a Newcastle one-two in the third semi-final of the Stadium Bookmakers Empress Stakes at Towcester on Sunday – setting the fastest time of the event in the process.

The Angela Harrison-trained two-year-old, runner-up in the Puppy Classic at Nottingham before winning for her handler at the same venue on Trainers’ Judgement Night, had come through strongly to win her heat seven days previously. However, this time a slick exit saw her make all over the 500m trip.

A 4.11sec split set up an early advantage, one which the September 2019 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Katie never looked likely to relinquish as she kept up a good gallop right to the line, winning by three and a quarter lengths from the fast-finishing Jimmy Fenwick-trained Bellmore Sally. The winning time was 29.31sec.

Oaks champion Ballymac Trend also heads into next Sunday’s final unbeaten in the competition as the David Mullins-trained tracker, winner of the Juvenile over C&D earlier this year, continued her comeback in superb style.

Quickly away on her way to a 4.11sec sectional, Ballymac Trend was never headed as the April 2019 daughter of Ballymac Best and Motobar Abigail crossed the line two and a half lengths clear of another Angela Harrison-trained qualifier in Coolavanny Bani in 29.62sec.

Rhianne Mullins, daughter of winning trainer David said: “Ballymac Trend has been a great addition to the team. The Empress Stakes are her first races with the kennel and it’s great to see her in winning form.

“She’s against a talented field of bitches in the final, however, which will push her to the limit. But if she keeps running as well as she has been and does everything right she has every chance and we’re looking forward to a good week.”

The Mullins team also have Brookside Richie in the Coral Romford Puppy Cup Final on Friday and the kennel is also hopeful of a good show in what is the next GBGB Category One Final on the Calendar.

“Richie picked up an injury in the puppy final at Hove and we were unsure if we’d get him back in time for the Puppy Cup, but he’s been in flying form,” added Mullins. “It’s a tough race, but if he can come out of the first bend in front he has every chance.”

The second semi-final of the Empress Stakes went to the prolific-scoring Droopys Aoife as Gemma Evans’s evergreen bitch came home strongly to catch Jim Reynolds’ Ritzy Lady to win by three-quarters of a length in 29.73sec to complete a cracking line-up for next week’s £12,500-to-the-winner decider.

Towcester spokesman and consultant Nathan Corden said: “It really is a brilliant line-up for the Empress Stakes and thanks again go to the bookmakers here for their support in backing the latest Cat One we’re staging here in 2021.

“It really should be another brilliant day of greyhound and music on Sunday given it’s Towcester Rocks here – so we’ve got the Stadium Bookmakers Empress Stakes Final plus Scouting For Girls, The Feeling, Hoosiers and Reef here after racing. Tickets include entry to the races plus an evening of live music – check out the website!”

*Trap draw for Sunday’s Stadium Bookmakers Empress Stakes Final: 1 Bellmore Sally, 2 Coolavanny Bani, 3 Droopys Aoife, 4 Coolavanny Aunty, 5 Ballymac Trend (m), 6 Ritzy Lady (w).