One of the world’s most exciting greyhounds in training features in a star-studded line-up at Central Park Stadium on Saturday night for the Arena Racing Company Kent Plate final.
March On Freddie burst onto the scene in August when winning the £12,500 Jenningsbet Puppy Classic at Nottingham where he broke the venue’s 500m track record in the process.
Trained by Wickford-based David Mullins, the two-year-old later reached the semi finals of the Irish Greyhound Derby at Shelbourne Park in Dublin and has won five of his six open races in the UK this year.
He enters Saturday’s Kent Plate final – worth £12,500 to the winner – having won both his heat and semi final two-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Elizabeth McNair’s King Jackson.
Both greyhounds will meet last year’s finalist Queen Shakira, Nathan Hunt’s Scooby The Boss, Blue Riband winner Table Toppers plus Winter Derby and Olympic champion Proper Heiress in a quality packed final at 9.11pm.
Trainer David has been pleased by what he’s seen so far and still believes there is more to come from his kennel star.
“We’ll check him over before Saturday’s final, but he’s come out of his semi final really well,” said David. “Before his Irish Derby campaign he trialled really well around Central Park, so we were confident it would be a track that would suit.
“There’s still a bit more to come from him, I think. But this is a really competitive final packed with quality.
“He has done everything we’ve asked of him and he’s been a terrific greyhound for the kennel and his owner George (Watson).
“With regards to the long-term plan, the English Derby is on our radar. But you can’t take anything for granted in racing so for now we’ll look forward to Saturday’s final and take each race as it comes.”
Saturday’s card also features two Category Three finals, worth £1,000 to connections of each winning greyhound.
Killuran Bella – runner-up in the Sprint Trophy final on Kent Derby finals night in October – headlines a six-strong card in the Arena Racing Company Sprint Trophy at 8.36pm. Meanwhile Cesarewitch finalist Head Count is among those to contest the Arena Racing Company Bitches Trophy at 8.54pm.
Tickets for Arena Racing Company Kent Plate finals night at Central Park Stadium on Saturday, March 29, are available from £8 and can be purchased online or on the door. Gates open at 5.30pm, with the first of 12 races on the night off at 6.37pm.
