LEADING Oxford owner Max Picinelli is in sight of the biggest win of his career after his Lyreen Mover eased into the semi-finals of the Will-iam Hill Derby at Wimbledon on Tuesday.

The Hungarian greyhound, which is trained by Gabor Tenczel and based at Tony Magnasco’s base at Shellgrove Farm, was winning his fourth successive qualifier and remains unbeaten in the event.

Going off at 4-1 in Tuesday’s quarter-finals, Mover overcame an early bump and led at the first and was never headed holding out by a neck from the 15-8 favourite Bandicoot Tipoki.

However, Magnasco can’t see the dog winning the blue riband of the sport which is worth £75,000 to the winner.

“I can see him getting to the final, but Toomaline Jack looks a different class.

“He has broken the track record and was 39 spots faster than Mover when winning on Tuesday,” he said.

“Hess a gutsy dog though, once he gets to the front, the nearer they get to him, he keeps pulling out a bit more.

“He just wants to win every race he goes for. I’m kicking myself.

Although I backed him at 500-1, he was a 2,000-1 chance when he first came over.

Mover, winner of the European Derby in Hungary, has also raced in the Czech Republic and Germany and all being well will head for the Stan James Pall Mall here next month.

Magnasco will see out his time at Shellgrove Farm until after the Derby final next week and than return to his old base at Milton Common.

The semi-finals are at the Plough Lane track tonight with Mover 10-1 third fav-ourite to win the title outright with Toomaline Jack at 6-4 and Bandicoot Tipoki 6-1.

Meanwhile, the Michael Peterson-trained Flagstaff Law posted the fastest grading time of the year at Oxford Stadium of 26.54, when winning by seven a half lengths.

  • THERE will be no trials on Bank Holiday Monday, May 31, but they will resume next week.