Three-times Category One competition winner Links Maverick set the pace in the Premier Greyhound Racing Classic heats for local trainer Tom Heilbron at Sunderland on Friday night.
The Northern Puppy Derby, Pall Mall and Gold Cup champion of last year eased into the Classic’s semi finals when winning Heat Two in 26.65 seconds ahead of Oscar The Grouch and kennelmate Unanimous Leon.
It signalled the start of a bumper evening for the Trimdon-based kennel with Arena Racing Company Puppy Cup winner Untold Ruble also winning her heat while Madabout Peck and Untold Euro qualified from their respective races.
The quintet have been drawn across all three of the competition’s semi finals on Friday night where the first two to finish each race will advance to the following week’s £20,000 final.
Links Maverick has been drawn in trap two in his respective semi final, outside Unanimous Leon and inside exciting new prospect Stonepark Hoffa plus Wraysbury Katie, Lion Heart and Coolavanny Mercy.
Tom has never won the Premier Greyhound Racing Classic since becoming a professional trainer almost a decade ago. But he hopes that trend can be reversed this year with his five kennel stars.
“It was a great night for the kennel,” said Tom. “To qualify five of our seven entries is a great achievement so full credit to the team as the Classic is seriously competitive this year.
“(Links) Maverick was away and gone in his heat which is his game. If he comes away in a similar fashion on Friday, I’d expect him to improve for the run as he still has so much talent. He has a great draw too inside Stonepark Hoffa.
“(Untold) Ruble is a really determined bitch and she showed that to win her heat. She has a strong record around Sunderland having won the Puppy Cup in the summer, so we’d love to qualify her for the final.
“We were really impressed by Untold Euro who ran a phenomenal race to qualify. He probably left 10 lengths on the track so he has a lot of potential. (Unanimous) Leon ran well behind Maverick and Madabout Peck has been off a while so should come on well for his run.”
There were other reasons to be cheerful on the night as trainers Savva Roberts and Angela Harrison – both attached to nearby Newcastle Stadium – won Heats One and Three with Stonepark Hoffa and Coolavanny Mercy respectively.
Other heat winners included John Lambe’s Swift Underwater and David Mullins’ Brindle Bully.
Tickets, trackside packages and restaurant bookings for the Premier Greyhound Racing Classic semi finals at Sunderland Stadium on Friday, November 8, are available now and can be purchased here.
Doors open at 6.15pm, with the first of 12 races on the night starting at 7.08pm.
2024 Premier Greyhound Racing Classic semi finals:
Semi Final One: Oscar The Grouch, Swift Underwater, Fire and Ice, Headford Sonny, Tromora Supreme, Madabout Peck.
Semi Final Two: Unanimous Leon, Links Maverick, Stonepark Hoffa, Wraysbury Katie, Lion Heart, Coolavanny Mercy.
Semi Final Three: Untold Euro, Untold Ruble, Bramble Linton, Aero Sacundai, Droopys Prefect, Brindle Bully.
