Larkhill Slaney proves top dog

The September 1998 Staples Jo-Alans Rose white and black bitch, which is owned by Williams' wife, Rita, turned in its usual impeccable performance, beating highly-rated kennel-mate Villers Bridge by an emphatic 3 lengths over the 270 metres in a rapid 15.84 secs.

In form Larkhill Slaney was again on the mark winning a big open at Shawfield after breaking the clock at Brough Park

Larkhill has gone from strength to strength and was well supported down to odds of 4-5 as she lifted the £150 prize money.

Villiers Bridge still remains the top A1 performer at the East Boldon circuit.

In fact he is so fast - he has a best 450m time of 27.27 secs - racing manager Jimmy Nunn is finding it increasingly difficult to accommodate him in graded racing.

He is currently 30 pops - nearly four lengths - faster than another eye-catching A1 performer, Graham Calvert's Bellraw Beauty, which has won four of her last four races.

The August 1999 Staples Jo-Fly Minx white and black puppy began her racing career at Sunderland in March, losing in a low-grade A5 race.

But since then the Irish-bred bitch has made rapid strides, moving up through the grades to the top level, where she has clocked an eye-catching 25.57 secs for the standard trip.

l Brough Park regulars have been impressed with the recent form of two little bitch puppies which are proving regular winners at the Tyneside track, Toumpane Dusk, trained by Gordon Rooks, and Paul Rutherford's Mona Pearl.

Toumpane Dusk, a November 1999 Decs Decision-Ballyshane Dusk black bitch started off in May with two starters grade wins.

Then, after a short injury lay-off, she has returned to winning form at A5 grade, earning a promotion to A4.

Mona's Pearl was bred by Rutherford's father, Eric, an October 99 Ronokee-Canny Pearl whelp, and has won five races since March, progressing from A7 to A4, by showing impressive back-straight acceleration.