Victoria Camden & No Brakes crowned SHRC Champs

Victoria Camden put in an impressive performance to reverse last year's SHRC 2YO Futurity placings when beating old rival Crosshill Ace (Andrew Cairns). She overcame a bad draw to take up the running just after the 3/4 marker, with long-time leader Crosshill Ace staying on for second and another Scottish-owned filly, She Be Rockin (Gordon Gilvear) taking the minor honours. Betting favourite Greenhilldebateable did not figure from the worst barrier draw.

No Brakes led out and made all, although was tracked throughout by English raider All Good Hanover (Lee Fletcher). The latter could never get within striking distance of the all-the-way winner, who recorded an eye-catching personal best of 2.03.45 in victory. GDs Hazzard (Andrew Cairns) put in a good run to finish third. Betting favourite Tyrion Hanover finished fourth.

Cullen's third win on the night came on board a non-winner in three seasons, Wellfield Alfie. Having not won since July 2014, the 8-year-old son of Village Connection debuted this year with a return to winning ways. He took up the running in the final quarter of the race and stayed on to win convincingly from the fast-finishing Camden Rocco (William Drysdale) and San Diego (John Allan).

The high grade handicap attracted top quality competitors and what looked like a fantastic race on paper turned out to be even better in reality. Stoneriggs Banner (Ian Hay) led the field through the half in 59 seconds, the fastest this year, and then was forced to fend off several challenges.

First challenge came from Camden Casper (Grant Cullen), then Ayr Majesty (Hugh Menzies) as the field stacked up behind them. Approaching the final bend with an eighth of a mile to go, a blanket covered the field and it was Robhall (Stuart Mackenzie) with a four-wide challenge who emerged from the pack to win impressively, with the grey Coalford Chief (Mick Lord) who had faltered early to find himself detached from the field, finishing second.

The mare, Sureamsomething (William Greenhorn) found a gap on the rail in the stretch to snatch third.

The beginning of the evening saw the first winner of the year for the O'Neil stables from Ayr, with their debutante Ayr Bird (Hugh O'Neil Jnr Jnr) who took up the running at the quarter marker and never looked back. Springhill Catch (William Greenhorn) wore down the long-time leader Tarawood Kiki (Andrew Cairns) in the stretch to win the Maiden & Novice event.

Vyrnwy Smoke returned to winning ways when partnered by SHRC Young Driver of the Year 2016, Lauren Moran, for the first time this year at Corbiewood, coming with a well-timed but bold challenge off the final turn to win from Ontop Accountable (Grant Cullen).

The next meeting at Corbiewood is Thursday 22nd June featuring the first leg of the Oakwood Stud Mares Pacing Series. First race at 7.30pm.

by Sarah Thomas, for Harnesslink

Race 1

1st Ayr Bird (Dreamfair Vogel-Grinfromayrtoayr) – H O'Neil Jnr Jnr

2nd Red Romeo (Daylon Alert-Red Sarah) – W Drysdale

3rd Beach Blizzard (Radiant King-Jennas Desire) – S Murray

Time: 2.06.45 Dist: 4L & 2L  5 Ran

Race 2

1st Springhill Catch (Best Sunshine-Springhill Kate) – W Greenhorn

2nd Tarawood Kiki (Kikikolt-One Mile Meg) – A Cairns

3rd Cardigan Flashman (Doonbeg-Ayr Flight) – R Haythornthwaite

Time: 2.06.05 Dist: 1L & Neck  5 Ran  

Race 3

1st Wellfield Alfie (Village Connection-Garys Advice) – G Cullen

2nd Camden Rocco (Arts Conquest-Magical Sign) – W Drysdale

3rd San Diego (Pro Bono Best-San Carra) – J Allan

Time: 2.05.28 Dist: 5L & 1/2L  7 Ran

Race 4

1st Vyrnwy Smoke (Backnthesaddleapan-Vyrnwy Victory) – L Moran

2nd Ontop Accountable (The Preacher Pan-Accountable Joe) – G Cullen

3rd K And M Redpandana (The Firepan-Rosy Red) – H Menzies

Time: 2.06.79 Dist: 1 1/2L & 1L   7 Ran

Race 5

1st Robhall (Dreamfair Vogel-Yoko Hall) – S MacKenzie

2nd Coalford Chief (Coalford Laag-Life Signs Image) – M Lord

3rd Sureamsomething (Wolfdancer Mindale-Sureamsmart) – W Greenhorn

Time: 2.03.95 Dist: 2L & 2L   8 Ran

Race 6

1st Victoria Camden (Mypanmar-Penn Kinki Touch) – G Cullen

2nd Crosshill Ace (Cams Card Shark-Vain In Spain) – A Cairns

3rd She Be Rockin (Rocknroll Hanover-Utopia Hanover) – G Gilvear

Time: 2.06.10 Dist: 2L & 1 3/4L  8 Ran

Race 7

1st No Brakes (Hasty Hall-Panama Canal) – G Cullen

2nd All Good Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere-All Tucked Up) – L Fletcher

3rd GDs Hazzard (Mypanmar-Jambo Cam) – A Cairns

Time: 2.03.45 Dist: 2 1/2L & 4L  6 Ran