Three left unbeaten as Shivoo stars again to hold De Lahdedah
CRAFTY SHIVOO took star billing for the second week running as she stretched her unbeaten record at the track to nine with a thrilling victory over De Lahdedah in heat six of the Star Sports/TRC Derby third round over 500m at Towcester.
Mark Wallis' bitch made light of having to break from the inside berth by going up fast to post a 3.93sec sectional which was crucial as De Lahdedah had catapulted to clock 3.94sec but she was able to get inside him before the turn.
Crafty Shivoo was some two and a half lengths clear at halfway but De Lahdedah kept battling and was only a head adrift at the line, the winning time of 28.62sec just four spots off the clock and emphasising the level of performance from the front two as did the position of reigning champion Gaytime Nemo in third some two and a quarter lengths away.
Heat seven was billed as the race of the night and did not disappoint as King Memphis was another to maintain a perfect record in the competition.
Ballinabola Ed once again rolled back the years to lead up but King Memphis got inside him at the first bend and quickly stamped his authority on proceedings.
Powering clear of a gallant Ballinabola Ed along the back, he came home nearly four lengths to the good in 28.74sec with Swords Rex seeing off a number of challenges to claim the vital third qualification position albeit five lengths away.
The other unbeaten runner remaining is Irish Derby champion The Other Kobe after Graham Holland's charge landed the opening heat in 28.77sec.
It was not a case of ping and gone on this occasion with kennelmate Clonbrien Treaty blasting out of trap six as he posted a joint best-of-round 3.93sec sectional, but The Other Kobe got inside at the second bend.
His improving race fitness was highlighted by the manner in which he saw out the 500m distance this time, never being threatened as he came home two and a half lengths clear of Hawkfield Blue with Whyaye Man a short-head away third and pipping Clonbrien Treaty for qualification.
Maxine Locke is having a great Derby and saw her Droopys Pivotel in charge from the first bend in heat two as he went on to beat Irish duo Ballymac Finn and strong-finishing Boylesports Bob by two lengths and a length in 28.93sec.
It was a case of roles reversed in the heat eight finale where Dowling's Ballymac Slick, who had pinged and led up, came again to wear down Locke's Cooliogold, who led from the first and, to win by half a length in 28.97sec with Hawkfield Abbie third.
There was a desperate finish to the all-UK third heat with Richard Rees' Churchfield Syd just holding off Locke's Coss Tokyo by a neck in 29.19sec with Bockos Thunder the same distance back in third.
Patrick Janssens' Droopys Doughnut turned over odds-on Superfast Gorden in heat four, making all and coming home two and a half lengths clear of the market leader in 28.93sec.
Janssens' had to settle for second in the following heat but will have been delighted to see his Edwards qualify behind John Byrne's Grouchos Duke, who continued his improvement in terms of seeing the trip out as he prevailed in 28.98sec.
Saturday's quarter-finals - first: 1 Superfast Gorden, 2 Gaytime Nemo, 3 Crafty Shivoo, 4 Droopys Pivotel, 5 Grouchos Duke, 6 Churchfield Syd (w).
Second: 1 King Memphis, 2 Ballymac Gizmo, 3 Whyaye Man, 4 Ballymac Finn, 5 Hawkfield Abbie, 6 Ballinabola Ed (w).
Third: 1 Edwards, 2 Hawkfield Blue, 3 The Other Kobe, 4 Swords Rex, 5 Ballymac Slick (m), 6 Droopys Doughnut (w).
Fourth: 1 Cooliogold, 2 Bockos Thunder, 3 Coss Tokyo, 4 De Lahdedah, 5 Beatties Sparkle (m), 6 Boylesports Bob (w).
