Mark Wallis lands the Caffreys Puppy Trophy
Champion trainer Mark Wallis was represented on Monday night in The Caffreys Puppy Trophy final at Nottingham by two of his rising stars - Bim Bam Boozle and Directors Spur. So which puppy prevailed?
Spur caught kennelmate Bim Bam Boozle last week to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths in a moderate and puzzling time of 29.89sec from trap two in the opening heats.
Bim Bam Boozle did however manage to produce the fastest break in the heat from trap one and with the final card this Monday producing an all-railer-line-up, replicating the best break was to be crucial if this 8-1 shot was to stand a chance in paying punters any dividends.
The Bettor.com Peterborough 2010 Puppy Derby runner-up did manage to rise to the occasion and was once again quickly away to the first bend, this time from trap three, and he took full advantage of early repeated trouble to win in a comfortable time of 29.67sec.
Spur was drawn with trap five and was always in trouble after being the slowest to break; punters were provided with near enough the same scenario of the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby 2010 Final, a competition in which Spur also finished last after a great semi-final effort.
Wallis is fortunate enough to be represented in this year’s English Derby final by probably the most unlikely candidate from his Imperial kennel Adageo.
Adageo is yet to bag himself a major competition and will be up against a tough field this Saturday at Wimbledon; his odds of 33-1 should pretty much tell you the story of how much of a threat the odds compilers make him out to be.
I can’t see it happening on this occasion, although the odds compilers did get it wrong last year, when Kinda Ready (25-1) stole the title, so you just never know.
The Gymcrack - one of the best puppy competitions also kick started last night at Hall Green. Go Commando is Wallis’ sole winner of the event to date, back in 2005, while last year Eye Onthe Storm was third behind Droopys Bogart.
This year, Wallis put seven entries into the opening heats and three have managed to make it through to next Wednesday’s semi-finals: Blonde Snapper, Blonde Gunner and Destroy The Camp.
Bettor Dot Com is another potential rising star who secured his place in the semi-finals after knocking out the Bettor.com Peterborough Puppy Derby champion Total Reality by two and a half lengths.
The suited wide trap runner has been gifted with trap five next week and although he will be up against a tough field, a good early break and avoiding any collision with ante-post fancy Droopys Poirot would see him earn a final spot.
Draw for Wednesday’s semi-finals:
First semi: 1 Droopys Pique, 2 Magna Sparrow, 3 Destroy The Camp, 4 Droopys Master, 5 Little Sensation, 6 Blonde Snapper (m).
Second: 1 Westmead Guru, 2 Bower Eagle, 3 Flopsy Bunnytail, 4 Melodys Light (w), 5 Bettor Dot Com (w), 6 Droopys Poirot (w).
Third: 1 Lively Mondays, 2 Blue Artisan, 3 Droopys Bradley, 4 Springmount Colo, 5 Droopys Ascot (w), 6 Blonde Gunner (w).
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