Mongys runs Wild to a new track record in the PGR Golden Jacket Semis

Golden Jacket clean sweep for Mark Wallis

The depth of quality in the staying division at Imperial Kennels was evident once more on Saturday night in the semi-finals of the PGR Golden Jacket. Three semis, three winners and a track record, a solid night's work for all involved.

It's 22 years since Centour Corker set the 684m clock at Monmore. It was over this same 684m that Mongys Wild sustained his only defeat  in 12 outings since joining Wallis A track record in the final of the Time TV Trophy was joined by a far more impressive track record last night to take six spots off a mark that has held firm for so long. Simon Deakin's Haka Carlo chased him home again to make the decider.

Bombay Nutty perhaps cost Wallis and the MWD partnership a fourth finalist when not helping out New Destiny on his way to winning the opening semi-final. They found themselves on the wrong side of one another early on and then she saw the door shut late on as Radical Scoby held onto second for Maxine Locke. A £10,250 purchase at the Towcester Derby Sales, he will contest a Cat One final in just start number four for the JR Racing Syndicate.

It was left to Newinn Cloud to complete the clean sweep. An ARC Grand Prix finalist behind New Destiny, he hit the front early on to see off Magical Luna for Kim Billingham-Hine for the second week in a row. 

On the undercard there were a further two winners for Team Wallis with Cash Briar and Ballinakill Liam both scoring. Guzzler and Belinda Green denied them another as he beat Pavilion Team in a sprint contest. Bang On Edith got her head back in front for Nathan Hunt, Kilara Berb scored for Ellie Field and Droopys Poker justified favouritism for Billingham-Hine.

A McNair hat-trick at Central Park

Half of the opens at Central Park went to Liz McNair-trained runners. Queen Shakira got herself back to winning ways with a slick 28.64 victory, the third quickest 491m time of the year and by far the quickest time set by a bitch over the distance. King Jackson also scored over the same trip.

The clash of the night was King Presley V Stonepark Hoffa in a sprint. All credit to Savva Roberts for sending his star down to Kent and his runner was sent off as favourite. That proved to be the wrong choice for punters as the track record holder was much quicker into stride and it was game over. The Silver Salver is coming up in June and Stonepark Hoffa will improve for the sighter. A further clash of the pair should be coming next month.

Havana Rantinrab won the other sprint open on the card for Spencer Mavrias, five and a half lengths off the time set by King Presley. A further 491m contest went to Dan Brabon's Kiso Uma while the big shock of the night was the 33/1 victory for Coppice Wanda over six bends for Luke Morrison.

Kevin Hutton dominates Oxford once more

David Jeans won the first open on the Oxford card with Magical Gus, running down Hutton's Witton Thomas on the run-in. From that point it was all Hutton, winning each of the other four opens on the night. A 14.83 from Coppice Ronnie got the winning run started, the third fastest sprint of the year to this point.

Highview Jasman has now won four straight races over the 650m trip and Signet Ernie has four wins from his last five in open class company, both winning on the night. It was Start The Engine who was left with the task of making it four on the night for Hutton, the youngster making it a perfect 3/3 in his career in the process.

Fradgley with a Donny double

The David Fradgley kennel are having an excellent 2025 with their open racers, 11 winners from 41 runners so far. That is already a career-best figure for a calendar year with Tiermana Lucky and Semtex Boy scoring on Saturday night. The former knocked Keefill Goose off the top spot for the fastest 450m time of the year.

There were two other opens on the card taken by Barry Denby's Bellmore Cricket and Kirsty Grayson's Speedy Elm. Having hit veteran status in January, Bellmore Cricket is showing no signs of slowing down. Speedy Elm is a litter brother of Bombay Nutty, clocking the second quickest 483m time of 2025 with his win.

Upcoming Opens

Sunday: Sheffield ♦ Towcester

Monday: Nottingham

Tuesday: Swindon 

Friday: Romford ♦ Sunderland