Perry Barr is experiencing a flurry of activity with the recent eight heats of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks, just a week after hosting the rearranged Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger and M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup finals.
Track Racing Manager Martin Seal has had his hands full, preparing for the upcoming Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup—a traditional sprinting event that kicks off Saturday and will run alongside the second round of the Oaks, a showcase exclusively for female greyhounds.
"We’ve got both the Scurry heats and the second round of the Oaks this weekend, which promises to be a fantastic night of racing," Seal remarked. He acknowledged the recent bouts of heavy rain but praised the high-quality racing. Seal hinted that the upcoming weeks would be particularly exciting, especially given the recent news regarding future competitions.
Next year, the Oaks will move to a brand-new track being constructed at Wolverhampton Racecourse, while the St Leger will be relocated to Nottingham in 2025.
"We’re hoping to host the Arc Laurels early next year," Seal added, "but this year’s editions of the Oaks and the Scurry Gold Cup should be as thrilling as ever, maintaining the high standards set in past years." He also expressed his surprise when the first-round draw matched favourites Druids Say Go and Avongate Venus in the same heat.
"It was quite a start to the event, but the race between two top-class greyhounds didn’t disappoint," Seal said, noting that trainers Patrick Janssens and Phil Milner were relieved to see their greyhounds advance and avoid meeting each other in the second round.
He also highlighted Queen Joni’s impressive performance, remarking that although she faced challenges heading into the first bend, she seized her chance when the opportunity arose. Seal reminded fans that Queen Joni, who had no luck as the ante-post favourite last year, finally showed her class alongside Queen Dusty, securing a double win for Liz McNair’s kennel.
McNair’s success extended beyond Perry Barr, with two significant victories at Central Park, making it a busy night for trainers with runners in both the Oaks and the Kent Derby.
With the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks and the Scurry Gold Cup lined up for this Saturday, Seal expressed satisfaction with the strong turnout for both competitions.
For the record, the first-round winners of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks were: Druids Say Go (27.89sec), Leighas Dream (28.02sec), Ballyhealy Star (28.47sec), Icemans Girl (28.14sec), Queen Joni (28.35sec), Queen Dusty (28.28sec), Chamberlain Kate (28.41sec), and Distant Cara (28.51sec).