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Ireland on top at Sunderland to start Derby weekend

The opening round of the Arena Racing Company Puppy Trophy was last night at Sunderland with an Irish runner going quickest.

Matt Newman

14 Jun 2025

Poppy slingshots to Puppy Trophy heat win

Four heats of the Arena Racing Company Puppy Trophy at Sunderland last night saw just one heat break the 27-second barrier. That was Slingshot Poppy for Irish trainer Pat Buckley, making her UK debut in serious style. Her 26.73 was 30 spots in front of any of the other heat winners.

She was previously the winner of an unraced competition at Enniscorthy before finishing runner-up to Lemon Joey in the Produce Stakes final at Clonmel. Her 26.73 is the third fastest time of 2025, two spots behind Lion Heart and a single spot behind Links Maverick.

Sunnyside Jayden already has plenty of winning open form at Sunderland for Ted Soppitt, adding to that with a 27.03 heat victory. It was his sixth win in 10 starts at the track. He has been drawn in the same semi as Slingshot Poppy next week in what looks an excellent contest.

Jill Suthurst has a nice recruit in Witton Williams. He is out of the excellent Witton Derecho which makes him a half-brother to Sunderland's 450m track record holder Witton Venus. He was another to get on the bunny on the run to the turn and maintain the gallop.

The surprise on the evening was Santas Amigo being turned over by his David Mullins kennelmate Zenith Impact. The winner was in A7 at Romford on May 14, taking some giant steps forward in the month since.

On the undercard there were a pair of Category Three finals with Slingshot Sam winning the standard for Brian Fairbairn in a smart 26.79. The dual distance final went to Fraser for Mark Bulmer. He was impressive in the heats last week and followed things up in style to land a 27.01 success by more than three lengths.

Romford multiples for Hunt, Lee, Locke and Young

There were plenty of doubles on the card at Romford last night. Bombay Buck produced a career-best last week for Paul Young, following that up with another smart success in 23,74, the quickest 400m run of the night. Young was also the first trainer on the board in the opens with Carters Buddy breaking his maiden.

Just a single sprint on the card where Nathan Hunt's Teaboy Brownie matched his 13.38 run from March as the fifth fastest of 2025. It was his first victory since that March run but the 13th open success of his career. Hunt would double up in the very next race with Cunnigar Yousir producing the quickest split of the night over 400m on the way to scoring.

Maxine Locke picked up her two wins over 575m with Droopys Rosie and Razldazl Myway backing up their wins from last Friday night with another. 35.15 and 35.22 were the winning times, with the pair of them both straight on the front end.

A further double went to Dave Lee who had the eight-bend winner in Bright Jewel. She reversed the form with Gothic Kitty who had beaten her last time out in the 750m contest. Lee's other winner was New Era Baby who broke his open race duck.

Two other opens on the card were both over 575m. Hogans Hawk was on the scoresheet for Seamus Cahill. The bet365 Hunt Cup winner beat a field containing Untold Paanga, Mad For Stirling, Brigadir Brindle and Droopys Prefect, putting almost four lengths into her rivals after taking up the lead at the fifth bend. Paul Berr's Snoozing Jimmy landed the other contest.