WARZONE TOM rewrote the record books at Romford on Friday when blitzing to a runaway success in the first semi-final of the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes over 575m – setting a new track record in the process.

 

The Liz McNair-trained flyer, a recent winner of the Summer Stayers Classic at Monmore, had missed the break in the heats seven days previously but made no mistake this time to secure his place in Friday’s £20,000-to-the-winner showpiece at the Essex venue – where he lines up the fastest-ever over the trip.

 

Well away on his way to a rapid 13.33sec sectional, the August 2019 son of Good News and Bogger Bonnie was never troubled thereafter as he strode clear to record a four-length success over Droopys Garden (Maxine Locke) in 34.55sec, four spots inside Sparta Master’s previous best for the distance.

 

A delighted Rab McNair, husband of the winning trainer, said: “What more can you say about Tom? He’s just brilliant. I thought he did well to qualify in the heats. He completely missed it but showed great pace and trackcraft to go round them at the bend and made it through. Tonight he was foot-perfect.

 

“Look, I always say times don’t matter, but it’s nice for him, Brendan (Keogh, owners KSS Syndicate) and the lads to have the Romford track record holder and hopefully he can get it right again in the final. It won’t be easy – these 575m finals at Romford are always great and full of class, but he’s got a chance.”

 

McNair reflected on a decent few weeks, but is not counting his chickens. “Look, we’ve managed to win some big races of late. Tom won the Monmore race, then Havana Lover won the St Leger, and I’ve read that ‘Lovely’ has won the (RPGTV/GWA) Greyhound of the Month for September which is great.

 

“Tom won it in August so that’s two in a row. It’d be nice to think he can win again on Friday, but either way it’ll be another busy week for us. We’ve got the pups going again at Oxford on Friday too, plus Lovely’s been in the Hunt Cup so it’s all go but we love the big competitions and that’s what keeps us going.”

 

Monmore trainer Arran Dunn struck in the second semi-final as Aero Squeak underlined his class and versatility again when making all the running for a neck success over Come Asyouare (Irene Barnard) in 35.16sec (+20). The winner, a February 2020 son of Dorotas Wildcat and Crossfield Dolly, boasts wins over two, four and six bends at his home track.

 

The third semi-final went to the Mark Wallis-trained Antigua Bigun as the September 2019 son of Droopys Sydney and Trumpers Flokie came again to lead home early leader Waste House Izzy (Dave Mullins) by a length and three-quarters in 35.13sec (+20).

 

Mark Arkell, Romford’s deputy racing manager, said: “I think we’re set for another great Champion Stakes final, the first under the Premier Greyhound Racing banner, and well done to Warzone Tom for breaking the track record. It was some run.

 

“Well done also to those who have made the supporting finals on Friday, notably those in the Coral Standard Trophy – which has a £5,000 first prize. Droopys Good and Rail Mccoy are set for another intriguing battle and are two outstanding greyhounds.

 

“Fair play also to the evergreen Carter Bar and Antigua Socks. They won their semi-finals in identical times and just love their visits to Romford. Between them they won so many races here and it promises to be a brilliant 400m final.”

 

Trap draw for Friday’s finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Romford/form-guides/19-FRIDAY-PROOF_2022-10-14-210951.pdf

 

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=390074&raceId=881364