SMALLMEAD and Aayamza Lexie were quickest in the heats of the Ladbrokes Gold Collar at Crayford on Saturday as the pair posted identical 33.74sec victories over the 540m trip – just one spot quicker than Desperado Dan.

Champion Stakes winner Smallmead was first to go as she kicked off her bid to claim back-to-back Gold Collars for trainer John Mullins after Saving Sonic’s success last year. The May 18 daughter of Definate Opinion and Ballymac Razl finished well to collar Seaglass Smokey (Patrick Janssens) in heat one.

Aayamza Lexie maintained her unbeaten UK record as the ex-Irish two-year-old made it three straight wins in heat two as Mark Wallis’s bitch was quickly into her stride and never headed to beat Seaglass Tiger (Patrick Janssens) by over five lengths in 33.74sec.

The Janssens camp, well represented in the Gold Collar, suffered a mixed evening with a wrist injury sustained by Ladbrokes Golden Jacket champion Skilful Sandie in the Kent St Leger heats when in the lead and on her way to victory. However, Desperado Dan and Doolin Princess landed a double for the kennel in the Gold Collar heats.

In winning heat three, Desperado Dan notched up yet another open-race success as he made all to win comfortably in 33.75sec, while Doolin Princess (33.98sec) struck comfortably in heat six. The kennel’s Bockos Doomie also qualified for the Derby second round.

“Sadly Sandie injured her wrist,” said Janssens. “It doesn’t look good but an x-ray will tell us more. As ever Dan was his professional self. He really is a joy to train and ran a brilliant race in the Champion Stakes final and went very close to winning it.

“He’s loving his racing just now and whe can’t ask anymore of him. Doolin Princess is quite new into the kennel but has won two races now, at Crayford and Central Park. She’s a sister of Glengar Bale so is very well bred.

“As for Doomie, he’s good. He qualified for the Derby on an awful night weather-wise at Nottingham – Ria (daughter) was with him up there. He hit a puddle against the rail at the third bend and just lost momentum.”

The other Ladbrokes Gold Collar heats were won by the Marcus Smith-trained Wicky Wag, who came through powerfully to land heat three, and Jamie Kingsley’s Druids So Bright who led at halfway on her way to scoring in 34.01sec.

Danny Rayment, Crayford racing manager, was overseeing a top-class night of open racing at the track given six heats apiece of the Ladbrokes Gold Collar and Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger.

He said: “Obviously Skiful Sandie’s injury put a dampener on proceedings and we wish her a speedy recovery.

“Otherwise it was a very good night’s racing. Smallmead was among the stars in the Gold Collar heats, proving she’s more than capable of doing it off the front or from off the pace  if necessary. Aayamza Lexie also impressed for Mark Wallis.

“After the disappointment of Sandie in her Leger heat, Patrick took the training honours in the other Gold Collar heats – qualifying all five of his entries for the semis – and there were fine victories for Desperado Dan and Doolin Princess. Wicky Wag was a surprise but very much deserved winner on his debut for first-season local trainer Marcus Smith.

“The Kent St Leger is now wide open after Skilful Sandie’s injury, with Ballydoyle Bee, Roxholme Poppy, Beechgrove Bell, Salacres Pippy and Micks Little Gem all performing with great credit and likely to dispute favouritism.”

Rayment reminds trainers that entries for the Kent National Hurdle close on Tuesday.

He added: “The event has been kindly sponsored by The Hazard Syndicate, which is Champion Hurdle-winning trainer James Turner and owner Patrick Rugg. It’s for 18 runners over 540m hurdles and worth £3,000 to the winner.

“We also have the Crayford Rose Bowl over 380m, worth £1,000 to the winner. This was an event which was cancelled after closing to entries just before lockdown in March.”

Results: www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=366505&raceId=677274