General / Editor / 02 July 2009 / Leave a comment

After the excitement of Tuesday night, The Lord provides breathless reflections on He Went Whoosh's sensational Cesarewitch triumph and picks his "dogs to follow" from the rest of the Oxford card...

How did he do that?

That was most people's reaction after He Went Whoosh powered home to claim Cesarewitch glory at Oxford on Tuesday, but not in the way we expected.

Led up by Melodys Comet among others, Claude Gardiner's dog looked set to struggle to justify favouritism, but he did so impressively. Next stop was due to be Sunderland on Saturday for the Festival, but an injury has curtailed those plans, but we await his return with interest.

The rest of the card at Oxford threw up a handful of 'dogs to follow' - not least Blitz, who ran with credit in the opening 450m event.

It's not often a veteran gets a mention in such a list, but Denis Stevenson's dog suffered a terrible journey to the Cowley track, so in the circumstances the run was a good one. He showed pace up to the bend, but couldn't get round Mountjoy Ruby, and Alfie Sparra needed no second invitation to skate clear.

Droopys Taffy has proved a difficult dog to win with, but there were signs that another victory is not too far away with a fair effort behind runaway winner Westmead Pal over 595m, while Timber Ted might have got closer with a clearer run in Parkmore Elite's race.

Timber Ted was definitely stepping up in class, but was certainly not out of his depth.
Officer Donagh remains in good heart and, while his Scurry Cup conqueror Centaur Allstar is back over four bends and Miss Lee is in Ireland, Chris Allsopp's dog could be considered the country's leading sprinter just now.

But one of the country's best trappers remains Robbie Rocks and it seems a shorter run to the bend the better for Jason Foster's dog, who should continue to pay his way.
Vatican Iona is flying just now and given any distance over 850m will continue to be difficult to beat.

The way she powered up the home straight behind Barnfield Brooke was sprinter-like! Goulane Bess also caught the eye in behind in the same race and, in a minor open, can strike gold.

The other dog to keep tabs with from Oxford is Hillcross Orion. He is in peak form, and sprints and short four-bend events are coming alike just now to Angie Kibble's speedster.

Elsewhere, Hollinwood Sam was all over the front runners in a sprint at Nottingham last week. With a faster start, Michael Clarke's dog would have turned closer and was going two-for-one up the home-straight. A surefire winner next time in similar company.

Sheffield staged a good card on Tuesday, and a good winner which might have ducked under the radar was Was Not Me.

Formerly trained by Graham Hutt, the bitch is now with Charlie Lister and showed cracking pace up to win over 500m. She posted a decent time as well, and clearly has suffered no ill effects from a tumble at Newcaslte recenty. Keep with her.