The BetGoodwin Pall Mall's opening night at Oxford on Saturday brought unexpected twists and a new track record, thanks to El Tornillo, trained by Dave Lee.
El Tornillo, one of two to achieve a 3.79 split, burst from the start and never looked back. Known for his strong form over Crayford’s 540m, he proved tough to catch once he led the pack. He clocked in at 26.24 seconds, setting a new record for the 450m distance.
Among those trailing El Tornillo was the ante-post favourite, Aero Sacundai. His split time was significantly slower, a length and a half behind his previous week’s performance, leaving him unable to challenge.
El Tornillo’s connections were ecstatic, with trainer Dave Lee describing the win as “Fantastic. A really good run, really pleased with it. We know he’s a good dog, a fast dog when he’s out in front. The track record and his winning doubled it (the excitement) up. Ran very very well.”
While Lee prefers not to plan too far ahead, the Yarmouth Derby is tentatively scheduled after the Pall Mall, as “the distance will be nice for the dog.” Meanwhile, kennel star Laughil Jess is set for a solo trial at Crayford tonight as she continues her comeback journey.