BRINKLEYS MAGIC was comfortably fastest as four heats of the KAB Maiden Derby took centre-stage at Towcester on Sunday.

Following last week’s qualifying round at the Northamptonshire venue, 24 runners lined up chasing glory in the 500m event, won two years ago by subsequent Derby champion Thorn Falcon, with the Tom Heilbron-trained October 2020 son of Magical Bale and Bobsleigh Jet setting the standard in heat three of the £10,000 event.

A half-brother of Irish St Leger and Irish Cesarewitch winner Bobsleigh Dream, Brinkleys Magic was quickly away and posted a slick 4.22sec sectional which laid the foundation for a one and a quarter lengths success over the Mark Wallis-trained Crossfield Cora and Patrick Janssens’ Garryvoe Rocky in 29.23sec (normal).

Winning trainer Heilbron, while delighted with the victory, admitted to a certain amount of relief in seeing the two-year-old shine at Towcester.

He explained: “Brinkleys Magic has frustrated the life out of me since arriving from Ireland. He’s an absolute aeroplane when he opens up but he’s found himself in trouble in most of his races until recently when taking off at Newcastle.

“The idea behind going without a trial was purely down to how well he’s ran every other track first time. I tried to keep him switched on but it worked against me. I’m just glad he qualified in the first round and then we saw the real Brinkleys Magic on Sunday.

“If he keeps getting clear runs he’s going to be very difficult to keep out of the frame. The draw’s not been too bad to him and I think he’s capable of bettering his 29.23sec run in the semis – providing he gets a trouble-free passage.”

Hopes Woofwoof struck late for Hove trainer Jason Heath in the opening heat one as the December 2020 son of Ballymac Eske and Mustang Markle grabbed longtime leader Tommys Kingdom (Richard Rees) in the shadow of the post to score by half a length in 29.77sec (normal), with Longacres Nutty (Pat Doocey) qualifying in third.

Drive On Lad, another Hove-based runner, belatedly opened his account with a first success at the twentieth attempt as the Richard Rees-trained runner led early in heat two on his way to an impressive two and a quarter lengths success over Longacres Pele (Pat Doocey) and Droopys Bluechip (Gemma Evans).

The winning time for the strong-running November 2020 son of Pat C Sabbath and Drive On Robyn was 29.40sec (normal).

The fourth and final heat went to John Lambe’s Peregrine Ryan as the November 2020 son of Peregrine Falcon and Dream Delight finished best for the spoils.

Victor Maximus (Roy Peckham) once again raced to a fastest-of-the-round 4.12sec sectional to set the tempo before the eventual winner, always handy inside, swooped to conquer close home for a neck success in 29.87sec (normal), with Tommys Lotto (Carol Grasso) making Sunday’s semi-finals in third.

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=395764&raceId=928314

Trap draw for Sunday’s KAB Maiden Derby semi-finals:-

First semi: 1 Peregrine Ryan, 2 Brinkleys Magic, 3 Longacres Nutty, 4 Crossfield Cora (m), 5 Garryvoe Rocky (w), 6 Tommys Kingdom (w).

Second semi: 1 Drive On Lad, 2 Longacres Pele, 3 Victor Maximus (m), 4 Tommys Lotto (w), 5 Droopys Bluechip (w), 6 Hopes Woofwoof (w).