Sky Night Reaction / Jonathan Hobbs / 21 August 2008 / Leave a comment

Jonathan Hobbs looks back at Select Stakes night.

Barnfield On Air rightly claimed the Select Stakes title from Cleenas Lady with a quite stunning success at Nottingham - arguably on a par with Tyrur Kieran's Scottish Derby victory as THE four-bend performance of 2008.

It was simply awesome. To lead up such a field by two lengths by the winning line was amazing, and the way he never allowed Ninja Jamie to strike a telling blow was as clinical as it was exhilarating. Having led and been caught by Cleenas Lady 12 months ago, there can be no-one who would begrudge Sam Poots's dog the plaudits he rightfully received afterwards.

But breaking down the race for the future, of course Barnfield On Air must continue to be watched as probably the fastest dog we have seen, on a consistent basis, for a good few years. Certainly since Westmead Hawk, and the two are impossible to compare. And his Champion Stakes target over 575m at Romford is as intriguing as it is exciting.

But the runner-up at Nottingham, Ninja Jamie, and third-placed Bubbly Totti also ran great races. Ninja Jamie showed sensational pace to close into the third bend, I have not seen many dogs to that to Boa, and he will no doubt come on for the run. And Totti amazingly brushed the rails as he cut the corner, so to finish where he did suggests a return to winning ways soon.

On the supporting card, Gabba Gabba Hey should have won the opening 730m maiden final over six bends and with a better start and more luck in-running, he might well have done and held on from fast-finishing Hondo Kid, likewise Rev Counter who messed up the start over four bends. Watch him next there there, especially.

Safa Prince probably got going too late in the 680m final and has stepped up in class well, while Stormy Forty was unlucky not to go round in the Guys & Dolls final. Take nothing away from the winner, a really good bitch on her day in A Million Maid, but having showed good pace up, Dave Pruhs's was dragged back just as he hitting the front.

Tyrur Hestor looks the real deal after bolting home in the heats. He looks a Yarmouth Derby type for sure, while Bubbly Legend was unnatural in the four-bend invitation having fallen out of the traps, slipped and lost a huge amount of ground before running on for second. He has really got the bit between his teeth now.

Droopys Nelson ran a cracker for Dean Childs in the 500m invitation and goes to Romford in good heart - what an event that promises to be - while Barnfield Brooke goes in the notebook behind Swift Blackfoot in the marathon and, but for choosing the wrong path up the home-straight, might well have won.

The performance of Flying Winner was, though, the talking point of the night once Barnfield On Air's greatness had been applauded. Chris Lund's bitch seemed to run in snatches, and could never get going.

And to be fair, Barnfield Brooke was going as well as Flying Winner up the home-straight, so it would be difficult to say she was unlucky.

She remains the best there is, though, and another runaway win might just be around the corner. At least her campaign, if desired, can be concentrated solely on the St Leger at Wimbledon, as the [winning] sequence was becoming something of a distraction to all. Let's hope she can join the likes of Lenson Joker, Droopys Nelson, Bubbly Totti et al. Superb.

Tags: Barnfield Brooke, Barnfield On Air, Boa, Bubbly Legend, Bubbly Totti, Gabba Gabba Hey, Ninja Jamie, Rev Counter, Select Stakes, Stormy Forty, Tyrur Hestor