Elizabeth McNair landed a terrific treble with Queen Joni, King Capaldi and King Sydney all victorious in the first round of the Ladbrokes Winter Derby on Saturday.
The Saturday lunchtime action at Monmore Green saw the McNair trio win heat four, five and six respectively after triumphs for Burj Khalifa (Diane Henry, Towcester), Bogger Rambo (Tom Heilbron, Newcastle) and Skywalker Pele (Ted Soppitt, Newcastle).
Queen Joni clocked the quickest time of the day in the fourth heat – arguably the strongest on the day – in 28.36secs, with last year’s Winter Derby winner Coolavanny Shado (Patrick Janssens, Towcester) and Churchfield Syd (Richard Rees, Hove) landing second and third ahead of the unlucky Aayamza Sydney (John Mullins, Yarmouth/Towcester).
Links Maverick (Heilbron) was another to just about advance to next week’s semi-finals having finished third in heat five – 0.02secs ahead of Nathan Hunt’s Antigua Eclipse.
The first heat saw wide runner Burj Khalifa march to success, showing fine early pace before eventually beating Whyaye Man (Mark Wallis) and Queen Georgia (McNair). Romeo Cypher (David Mullins, Romford), who recently broke a track record at Oxford, finished fifth having led until the third bend.
Bogger Rambo enjoyed an impressive five-and-a-half length win in the second heat ahead of Get Up Me Boy and Betsys Bullet (both trained by Belinda Green), while Skywalker Pele (Soppitt) took the spoils in heat three – Bluejig Baron (David Lee, Crayford) and Kila Detail (Rees) being the others to qualify.
Queen Joni’s sublime showing came in heat four, bursting out of the boxes from trap one and leading all the way to lay down a marker going into next week’s semis.
Not to be outshone by his kennelmate, King Capaldi also gained the advantage at the first bend and grabbed the victory, with Droopys Eddie (Maxine Locke) and Links Maverick also booking their place in the semi-final draw.
The sixth and final heat was won by King Sydney as Aero Sacundai (Richie Taberner) and Drive On Lad (Rees) finished second and third to claim the final semi-final spots – Sacundai slowing slightly having led until the third bend.
Three heat winners find themselves in semi-final two next weekend as King Sydney, Bogger Rambo and Skywalker Pele are in trap one, four and six respectively.
Coolavanny Shado and Churchfield Syd face off once again in semi-final one, while Queen Joni and King Capaldi are in trap one and two respectively in an exciting third semi-final.
