Aero Sacundai Dominates BetGoodwin Pall Mall Final at Oxford
AERO SACUNDAI etched his name into a prestigious list of champions by showcasing exceptional speed to claim victory in the BetGoodwin Pall Mall Final at Oxford, marking the first Cat One win for Monmore trainer Richie Taberner.
The dog, trained by Taberner for the Aero Racing Syndicate, which includes Stuart Forsdike, Mike Woolgar, Geoff Ansley, and Taberner himself, utilised his inside position and trap one draw to edge out the fast-starting Long Fellow (trained by Matt Dartnall). The two competitors were neck-and-neck as they approached the first bend, but AERO SACUNDAI, a 35-kilo dog born in February 2022, surged ahead, leveraging his prior experience with trainer Graham Holland.
AERO SACUNDAI secured the £10,000 prize for the 450m race, backed by new sponsors BetGoodwin, with a comfortable two-and-a-half-length lead over Long Fellow, finishing in a time of 26.52 seconds. This year's competition continued the tradition of the event with new sponsorship.
Stuart Forsdike, part-owner, expressed their excitement, highlighting the significance of the trap draw that positioned them inside Long Fellow and Madabout Peck (trained by Tom Heilbron). He noted that while AERO SACUNDAI does not have a strong preference for trap one, being inside Dartnall's dog was advantageous. Forsdike appreciated the fearless performance at the bend, securing a lead that proved insurmountable.
He also emphasised the importance of this victory, mentioning that it had been a long time since his last Cat One win, in 2011. Forsdike praised Richie Taberner and Jo Slater for their efforts and expressed gratitude to BetGoodwin for sponsoring the event, acknowledging that such races rely on sponsor support.
Third place was secured by Droopys Hanover, trained by Kevin Hutton. The night belonged to AERO SACUNDAI, as Taberner joined a distinguished group of trainers who had secured their first Cat One title in 2024, alongside Paul Burr, Kevin Proctor, Kevin Ferguson, Richard Wales, Tony Harmes, and Bill Russell.
Oxford racing manager Simon Pearson commended the connections of AERO SACUNDAI and thanked the sponsors for their support. He praised BetGoodwin for their enthusiastic sponsorship and engagement through social media, contributing to an exciting final. Pearson noted that AERO SACUNDAI and Long Fellow delivered a masterclass in early pace, with the outcome potentially hinging on the trap draw. He also mentioned the impressive performance of Magical Luna, who broke the 847m track record on the supporting card.