HOLLOW MAN rewrote the record books at Romford last Friday as the Derek Knight-trained star set a new track record for the Essex venue’s 575m trip when making it seven wins from eight UK starts in the heats of the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes.

Lining up in heat three of the £20,000-to-the-winner event, the June 2021 son of Pat C Sabbath and Leezie Lindsay led kennelmate Candolim Monsoon into the turn and was always in front of the Sussex Cup champion before coming home a length and a half clear of that rival, with Longacres Nutty (Pat Doocey) qualifying in third.

The winning time was a brilliant 34.54sec (+20), which took one spot off reigning champion Warzone Tom’s best set in the same competition 12 months ago. Ironically, the pair now meet in tomorrow’s second Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes semi-final.

However, just getting both his runners through the semi-finals at Romford took priority for the Hove trainer, who said: “When I saw they were in with each other, in the same heat, my heart sank, but thankfully they’ve both done it right and got through.

“Hollow Man would have more early pace than Candolim Monsoon, so once he’s trapped well you’d always expect him to lead, but I liked the way Monsoon kept up the pressure. Both are classy dogs and it’s now fingers crossed for the semis.

“If I could have trap four for Hollow Man throughout I’d take it, but it’s a tough draw for Monsoon – wider than we’d like – but he’s in there with a chance if he can get a clear run. He’s clocked some very fast times at Romford in the build-up to the Champion Stakes but you need clear runs to do those sort of times, so we’ll see.

“We’ve never won the Champion Stakes. We’ve had finalists, even had another 575m track record holder in Solid Money, and have won two Coronation Cups with Fatboyz Zorro  and Shotgun Bullet, but this is probably our best chance of winning a Champion Stakes.

“Then again it’s a tough event to win. Dogs you expect to get through their semi-finals sometimes don’t and those you thought might struggle seem to quality, so you never plan for anything in this game – and it’s definitely a case of one race at a time for our pair!”

Numerically, training honours on the night went to another Hove trainer in Richard Rees as Maglass Brave and Drive On Lad landed him back-to-back PGR Champion Stakes heat victories – with the former kicking off the event in the best possible style.

Quickly away and soon in command in heat one, Maglass Brave was never headed as he crossed the line almost two lengths clear of Drumdoit Jack (Paul Burr) and odds-on favourite Havana Top Note (Liz McNair), the winning March 2020 son of Kinloch Brae and Bling Bling Lola clocking 34.97sec (+20).

Drive On Lad, a November 2020 son Pat C Sabbath and Drive On Robyn, then landed a Rees double in heat two as he led early and held a challenge down the far side from ex-Irish star Haka Carlo (Nathan Hunt) before crossing the line three-quarters of a length clear of that rival and the runner-up’s kennelmate Droopys Google in 34.98sec (+20).

Ninja Kerry, the 2022 Coral Sussex Cup champion, rolled back the years with a brilliant display in heat four as the November 2019 son of Droopys Jet and Ninja Penny was sharply away and always clear, this year’s Derby finalist coming home five lengths clear of trackmate Burrows Sapphire (Jason Heath) and Minnie Bullet (Mark Wallis). The winning time was 34.75sec (+20).

Reigning champion Warzone Tom, now a senior performer as an August 2019 son of Good News and Bogger Bonnie, then landed one of the most popular victories of the night when reeling in long-time leader Bedrock Wilma (Martyn Wiley) in heat five, landing the spoils by a short-head from that rival and Whyaye Man (Mark Wallis) in 34.85sec (+20).

The sixth and final heat proved a disappointing one for connections of Savana Lioness as she was disqualified after a coming together when coming to challenge for the victory, which went to Maxine Locke’s all-the-way winner Ballintee Noshow.

The December 2020 son of Burgess Bucks and Ballintee Flare clocked 34.91sec (+20), in a heat which saw Gutsy Jet (Kevin Boon) qualify in third.