A short head separated Mongys Wild and Droopys Flare at the end of 684m at Monmore with the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket just going to the Mark Wallis-trained superstar. The winner came away much better than can often be the case, almost looking like he would turn front rank before others just beat him to the punch.
By the fifth bend he had his head in front and looked like he would go on to win with more in hand but Sean Parker’s Droopys Flare had other ideas, pushing him all the way to the line. A missed break was costly to Vhagar who got herself to the front by the time that they hit the third bend but that exertion told against stronger stayers.
The Maxine Locke pair The Other Winx and Bluejig Outlaw never looked like landing a serious blow, but they are both just January 24 whelps, so there should still be more to come from them.
Although Cartoonist finished last for Craig Morris, it didn’t tell the story of his race. Like Vhagar, he didn’t show his early pace like he can but he was the one to keep up with the three big guns the longest before that effort took its toll from the three-quarters mark. Others are stronger over a stiff six but he shapes as if there is a decent prize in him.
It won’t be too long before sales graduate Droopys Flare finally gets her head in front in a big one!
Elsewhere on the card for Greyhound Trader, Flashing Fender won in emphatic fashion clocking 28.03 over 480m. Craig Morris’s charge has been in flying form over the last 10 weeks with six wins and a pair of runner-up efforts in eight starts. Flashing is exactly how he exited the traps, producing a 4.24 sectional to end his rivals chances from the start.
Kim Billingham-Hine also picked up a winner on the night with Beatties Shelby who landed a puppy contest. His pace to the bend made all the difference, getting himself away and gone.
