GREYHOUND PREVIEW: BARRY CAUL previews a busy weekend ahead with the finals of the Essex Vase at Romford on Friday and the final of the Cesarewitch from Central Park on Saturday. Below is an in-depth preview of all runners in the Essex Vase and Cesarewitch finals.
Essex Vase Final at Romford
🟥 New Destiny
🟦 Fabulous Sonique
⬜ Aayamza Sydney
⬛ Droopys Eunice
🟧 Newinn Cloud
🔲 Scammer
New Destiny: A real superstar. Started her career off in Ireland when with Barry Clancy in Kildare. After winning three of her first four she made the switch to Mark Wallis in the UK. Made an instant impression when getting to the final of the Juvenile Classic at Towcester when beaten favourite in the final. She won the Coronation Cup at Romford breaking the track record in the decider. Already the winner of the afore mentioned Coronation Cup she also won the Challenge Cup at Oxford and the Champion Stakes. She has a cracking record around Romford and is perfectly drawn to run a big one in the final.
Fabulous Sonique: A runaway winner on debut at Clonmel in Jan of 23 when under the care of Adam Dunford, she too then made the switch to Mark Wallis. Bumped up against some useful performers in the early part of her UK career mixing it with the likes of Crafty Shivoo and Ballymac Taylor. Has been a real credit to connections winning twenty-four times over a variety of distances and tracks. Has consistently ran against the best for the last couple of years and always gives you a run for your money. Will need to lead up her kennel mate in one if she is to emerge victorious.
Aayamza Sydney: One of the most consistent greyhounds in training and he must be an absolute pleasure to own. Started his career with Nalin Monerawela around Shelbourne. After qualifying with promise he failed to win in four starts but displayed definite signs of ability. Scored on his third outing for John Mullins at Towcester and then went on to win five starts from his first eight visits to Romford with a couple of wins at Yarmouth in between. Made the final of this event last year as well as the Gold Collar final at Crayford in 23. Went on to win the final of the 2024 Gold Collar late last year and will be hoping to go one better than when runner up in this event last year.
Droopys Eunice: Looked a star from very early on in her career. An impressive winner of her second outing around here she then went on to make the final of the Northern Puppy Derby at Newcastle finishing second. The Puppy Derby at Monmore was next up where she again made the final behind Untold Dollar. Further final appearances where to follow when contesting the finals of the Brighton Belle at Hove, the Empress Stakes at Towcester and an appearance in the English Oaks final at Perry Barr. She rocked up in the final of the recent Gold Collar at Crayford and has now made another final in the shape of this weekends Essex Vase. She will win one sooner rather than later and she is due some luck!
Newinn Cloud: Debut winner at Cork when trained by Graham Holland. He impressed in a two-bend trial before finishing second in an A1 contest at Clonmel. Moved to Mark Wallis soon after and won on his second outing at Towcester clocking a useful 29:21 for the standard trip. Bumped up against some classy sorts in Barntick Bear and Droopys Plunge at the back end of last year and has been campaigned mostly at Romford in recent months. Good winner of his semifinal when posting a career best but needs to go even quicker in this weekends final.
Scammer: Exciting type. Ultra impressive winner of his last Irish start around Drumbo when winning in 28:28 (Fastest time of the year at the track). Another to have joined Mark Wallis and has won three of his four starts. Showed plenty of class when getting the better of New Destiny last week and he can only improve on that. Perfectly draw in the decider and has more scope than most. Could be the one to beat.
Verdict: Scammer ran a cracker last week to see off New Destiny and will be looking for a repeat performance. He has an ideal draw in the stripes and can only improve on what he has done so far. He is unbeaten over six bends and looks a greyhound with a bright future. New Destiny has an excellent record at the track and can go up better than last week. She too has a perfect draw but looks skinny enough at 11/10. At the prices I would rather have some of the 4s on offer about Scammer but its not a race I will get too involved with. Good luck to all connections.
Cesarewitch Final at Central Park
🟥 Head Count
🟦 Garfiney Blaze
⬜ Droopys Flare
⬛ Breton Molly
🟧 Droopys Flotilla
🔲 Bright Jewel
Head Count: Her breeding suggested she was always going to excel over the longer trips. Her dam Mixed Model made it to the semifinal of the Irish Cambridgeshire at Limerick in 2021. Head Count started her career with Dennis Crowley and came from well off the pace to score on her second outing at Limerick in a 550-yard contest. She ran with credit in a couple of A2 contests at the same venue before making the switch to Barry O Sullivan in the UK. Has really improved for the switch to six bends winning three of her five starts and finishing runner up on the other two occasions. She is improving with each run, but her slow starts are a worry. Has a perfect draw on the fence this Saturday and if breaking in better fashion she has a real chance.
Garfiney Blaze: One of the standout performers over the past couple of years in the staying division. Has already won this event last year breaking the track record in the process and added the George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob Memorial at Hove to his CV late last year. Has gone off odds-on in seventeen of his last eighteen outings such is his dominance, and he has won on fifteen of those starts. Mixed it with the best Ireland has to offer over four and six bends early in his career when with Graham Holland and has been a real money spinner for connections since making the move to Mark Wallis in the UK. Is obviously the one to beat, draw should work in his favour and will be looking to make all, just like last year!
Droopys Flare: Member of an exceptional litter that includes Droopys Kathleen and Droopys Smily. Won on debut for trainer Sean Parker and has only finished out of the first two once in nine starts. Another who has taken her form to a different level since stepped up in trip. She is unbeaten over six bends and broke the track record at the track on Jan 4th. Again, came from off the pace to score in last weeks semifinal. Can break well but does lack a yard of early pace. Needs to secure a clear run early but has a massive engine and a huge future ahead of her. Looks the main danger to Garfiney Blaze.
Breton Molly: Started her career over two bends at Tralee in Aug of 2023 but improved once stepped up to four bends winning impressively at the same track in 28:36 for the 525. Made the switch to Patrick Janssens and has since gone on to win races at Towcester, Crayford, Suffolk Downs, Yarmouth, Perry Barr, Doncaster, and Hove. Incredibly versatile and never seems to run a bad race. Shuffled back around the opening bends in her semi but kept on well behind Head Count. Draw looks far from ideal but has the pace to get involved.
Droopys Flotilla: A sister to the brilliant Droopys Clue and she herself is no back number! Broke the track record at Nottingham back in November for the 680m trip and has continued to hold her form well. Made the final of the Kent St Leger and was also a semifinalist in the Golden Jacket. Can flash from traps and will be looking to get to the front early. Led for much of the trip last week before finding only Droopys Flare too strong in the closing stages. Trouble in behind would aid her cause but needs to make a flying start if she is to claim the early lead.
Bright Jewel: The outsider of the field and has run well to make the final. Her early form in Ireland was not spectacular, indeed she only won twice from thirteen starts. Once in A8 company, the other when a runaway winner of an A3. Moved to Dave Lee in July of last year and has won on three occasions including a decent performance when winning a maiden stayer’s event at Hove. Posted a PB in last weeks semi but will need a little luck if she is to play a part in the finish.
Verdict: Garfiney Blaze will once again go off odds-on and its easy to see why. The draw should work in his favour, and he will be looking to make all. He did so in the final last year and will be looking for a repeat performance. Droopys Flare has a massive engine but will need luck in the early part of the contest. She can trap well but lacks a yard of early pace and could find herself shuffled back through the field. I put up Head Count at 14s prior to the semifinal and I am happy enough with the trap draw. She has been slowly away on her last couple of starts but she is capable of better. She runs the bends well and if she could break in better fashion, she can make them all go. Good luck to all connections.
Barry
