What a result for Oxford trainer Richard Yeates and owners Shane Lee and Mel Shorter after Jolly Poacher landed the Complete Property Care Maintenance Oxfordshire Stakes in style.
The brindle and white dog brought his earnings to more than £4,000 by winning all four starts since making his debut at Oxford Stadium on August 29.
Connections have big hopes for the Droopys Cahill -Miss Regina whelp and go for the big treble in the Blanchford Gold Cup next month.
The fine weather brought punters trackside, with Poacher going off the 4-5 favourite.
Poacher shot out of the inside box like a rocket and was almost three lengths clear of his rivals at the sectional.
He kicked on and, although Bubbly Toby seemed to be getting closer approaching the final bend, once back on the straight, Poacher roared five lengths clear of his rivals.
His calculated time of 26.50secs (going -20) in the final where he finished three lengths clear of Bubbly Toby was his fourth sub 27-second time.
“He is something special, a lovely dog,” said Yeates, who is based at High Wycombe.
“The plan is to keep him at Oxford at the moment and go for the treble with the Blanchford Gold Cup next month.
“He will have a trial here in the meantime, but other than that, he can have a rest.”
Poacher, a shrewd purchase by Lee, will have a trial at Wimbledon next month and if going well, the St Leger will be his target.
Yeates, like many observers thought Poacher would be caught by the chasing Bubbly Toby on Saturday, saying the bottom bend was a bit heavy.
But once on the good going, he pulled away impressively. And to think he was bought as a sprint dog.
Earlier, the promised battle between staying stars He Went Whoosh and Melodys Comet proved an anti-climax.
Comet missed the break, and Whoosh left the field for dead.
Although Comet finished runner-up, it wasn't the spectacle we expected. l DON’T forget the darts challenge at the Original Swan in Cowley Road on Tuesday, where the Robert Hannan kennel is taking on challenges from other kennels in aid of the Oxford Retired Greyhound Trust.
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