The Scottish Derby, which boasts an impressive prize sum of £25,000, warmed up with the bettor.com Scottish Derby Trial Stakes on Saturday. The meeting also consisted of a further two races (Division One and Two) at the Shawfield track.
It was Target Classic (7-4 favourite) who dug deep to hold off Greenwell Viper (3-1) and credit Craig Dawson with his first competition win as a trainer with a half-length victory in the Trial Stakes final over 480m.
"He's got great early pace, got to the front and kept them at bay," said Dawson of the 29.52sec winner, "although I did think my other finalist, Ardera Monarch (4-1), was perhaps the unlucky dog."
The race only had five runners as Dawson’s Ardkill Tunoco was out with a dew claw injury. Tunoco should be fine to return in time for the Scottish Derby.
Greenwell Gale (6-1) took third in the race and clocked two lengths short of kennelmate Viper. Sniper Petra (5-2) failed to pay dividends as the ante-post market second favourite as he finished fourth, while Dawson’s Monarch came in last with a sluggish time of 30.02secs.
Trainer Pat Flaherty, who was half a length short of success in the final of the Trophy Stakes with Viper, managed to bag the first division race with Greenwell River (5-2) by clocking an impressive time of 29.46secs.
River, who broke the track record in an invitation race on Scottish Derby Final night last April, will be back for another crack at this year’s title which will kick start on March 30th.
Flaherty also took the Division Two race with Greenwell Shadow (4-5favourite) who clocked a time of 29.70secs.
The night would have ended well for the Greenwell kennel if Viper had connected, however Flaherty is happy with the progress and is sure his dogs will stand a strong chance in bringing home the trophy and the massive prize of £25,000.
2010 bettor.com Scottish Derby Schedule:
30/03/2010 – Opening heats
03/04/2010 – Second round
06/04/2010 – Semi-finals
10/04/2010 – Final
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