OAKWOOD DERBY ENTRIES UP BY 38%, WHILST RHYDS FUTURITY SEES A 162% UPLIFT!

The initial nominations for The Oakwood Stud BHRC Derby and The Rhyds Stud BHRC Futurity have been released and they make pleasant reading for harness racing fans as they show significant increases from 2015. Both Classics will be held at Tir Prince Raceway on Saturday 3rd September 2016.

The Oakwood Derby has a total of 25 entries with 13 colts and 12 fillies being entered. This is up from 18 entries last year and shows a very creditable 38% increase. It was well publicised before nominations closed that colts and fillies will be split if the numbers were sufficient and this has definitely helped boost the number of fillies entered. Some familiar names from last year include Miraculous winner of the Breeders Crown, The Vincent Delaney Memorial and The PACT 2 Year Old Race at York. Party At The Spa who conquered the aforementioned Miraculous twice at Tir Prince last year and Jacks Red winner of the BHRC Futurity in 2015. Irish hopes for the boys include Newtown Major and Newtown Rock.

Amongst the fillies Jessie’s Conquest returns to the track where she is unbeaten whilst Rhyds Snowbird was a winner on her only outing at Tir Prince last year. Other familiar names include Porcelain Seelster owned by Claire Fletcher and the sponsors very own Oakwood Destiny who had a promising juvenile campaign curtailed by an injury sustained in the paddock.

A reminder that these races will be run over 1½ miles. Cams Best’s record of 3.04.4 has stood for 12 years – are any of the current crop capable of breaking it? Time will tell! The 1½ miles at Tir Prince is recognized as the toughest in the UK and Ireland and the fact that the all age record at the track is a mere 0.2 of a second quicker (Rhyds Hasty Affair 3.04.20) tells us all we need to know about how good Cams Best’s record is.

The Rhyds Futurity has a total of 42 entries with 23 colts and 19 fillies being entered. This is up from 16 entries last year and shows a fantastic 162% increase year on year. An increase was expected with the announcement that the sexes would be split but it is fair to say that these figures are way above what was hoped for and both the BHRC and Tir Prince Raceway are delighted with the outcome so far.

So who’s entered? Well as expected there are a fair few horses entered who made the journey over from North America as yearlings and in the colt’s division they include All Good Hanover and Elmo Hanover. Some of the colts entered have some very successful siblings including Ladyford Express (full brother to Ladyford Indianna), Rhyds Rockstar (full brother to Rhyds Hallstar & Rhyds Fivestar), Rhyds Decoy (full brother to Rhyds Desire and Rhyds Topaz) and Father Ted (full brother to Jessie’s Conquest). £48k Buith Wells Purchase Rhyds Ideal is also amongst the nominees as is York Sale topper Rodney Camden.

The fillies are every bit as well related with Teatime Preacher (half sister to Stamp Hill) sure to prove popular in any ante post market. On Her Way Again and She Be Rockin have been imported for the job whilst Mikala Camden was the top priced filly at the York sale fetching £10,000. Rhyds Stud are sponsoring the races and their Top UK Sire Hasty Hall is represented by Rhyds Mystique and Rhyds Hokey Cokey.

On behalf of Tir Prince Raceway and the BHRC many thanks to everyone who has entered these races, 3rd September is one for the diary of any harness racing fan!

The next sustaining fee of £50 for both the Derby and the Futurity are due on 1st April 2016

Eric Witherspoon

The Oakwood Stud BHRC DERBY
COLTS & GELDINGS
Arts Pace Hill
Enter The Dragon
Indie Hanover
Jacks Red
Miraculous
Newtown Major
Newtown Rock
No Stoppin
Ontop Big C
Party At The Spa
Real Conquest
Ring Of Fire
Rockin Mambo
FILLIES
Best Of Class
Caenwood Classic
Dynamic Ace
Frisco Jenna
Gray Blizzard
Jessies Conquest
Newtown Onyx
Oakwood Destiny
Porcelain Seelster
Rhyds Snowbird
Rogue Diamond
Tarawood Joy

The Rhyds Stud BHRC FUTURITY
COLTS /GELDINGS
All Good Hanover
Alpine Star
Brywins Magicbeach
Coalford Earl
Coffee Mate
Dreamfair Nadal
Elmo Hanover
Father Ted
Frisco Stinger
Johnny Camden
Ladyford Express
Lyons Comet
Newtown Terror
No Brakes
Oakwood Cisco
Rhyds Cocoa
Rhyds Decoy
Rhyds Ideal
Rhyds Rockstar
Rodney Camden
Someones Fantasy
Springhill Glory
Tarawood Kiki
FILLIES
Anglesey Debutante
Boos Fury
Coalford Honey
Crosshill Ace
Finley Wells
Greenhilldebatable
Hendre Breeze
Lyons Ace Of Spades
Lyons Lememay
Mikala Camden
Newtown Amber
Olivia Camden
On Her Way Again
Rhyds Hokey Cokey
Rhyds Mystique
Rhyds Voodoo
Sheberockin
Teatime Preacher
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