A quality Mothering Sunday card sees Owlerton Stadium host the 14:14 Bresmed Puppy Sprint Cup Final (OR) 280m and the 14:45 Stones Bitter Queen Mother Memorial Cup Final (OR) 660m.
The culmination of a busy week gets under way at noon and a heavily sponsored card ends with the 15:00 City Taxis Race (OR) 500m.
Managing Director, John Gilburn, said: “I am delighted with the calibre of the entry for the competition – it is probably the best entry we have ever had, or at least for many years. I hope it will generate a good deal of interest in the greyhound industry and will result in a lot of people coming to see the competition.” He added: “The Mother’s Day meeting always generates a superb atmosphere and I see this year’s event being better than ever. The restaurant sold out several weeks ago, so it does seem to have caught peoples’ imaginations. Hopefully, the weather will be kind, and we will attract a high number of people who are just wondering what to do on the day, so we can show the people of Sheffield what great facilities we have, and then with any luck, they may become regular greyhound race-goers.”
Slaneyside Diver (m) for home trainer Elaine Parker got the job done from trap 3 in Heat 1 when showing early pace and soon led to hold off stiff resistance from Sky Dancer in second place at a time of 16.28. Sidarian Fizz for Charlie Lister was sent off 9/4jf with the son of Me Daddy and Jane Of Arc but failed to usurp the front two, while Parker’s other runner, Swift Wozzy, was made to pay for crowding at the first.
Heat 2 saw Geelo Van George for Carl Perry turn in the joint-quickest time of the three heats, 16.13, to deny the 2/1f Old Joe Golden (m). The jolly was always handy but ultimately beaten a neck in a cracking duel. Solvitas Brae in trap 5 for Sheffield trainer Barry Draper missed out at the exotic price of 8/1 after hitting traffic at the first bend.
Draper, whose Glenpadden Rock was crowned winner of the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby 2015 Final on Friday at Monmore, will at least be represented in the Bresmed Puppy Sprint Cup Final with kennel-mate Glenpadden Wood (w).
He was beaten two-and-a-quarter lengths in Heat 3 by Tin Soldier for Pat Rosney, but the pair ousted the 6/4f Slaneyside Ogie for trainer Maxine Locke in third and Tango Jackie in fourth for home trainer Parker.
14:14 Bresmed Puppy Sprint Cup Final (OR) 280m: 1 Tin Soldier, 2 Geelo Van George, 3 Old Joe Golden (m), 4 Slaneyside Diver (m), 5 Sky Dancer (m), 6 Glenpadden Wood (w).
The 6/4f Swift Curie for home trainer Russ Warren and Russanda Blue for Parker both missed out in a Heat 1 of the Stones Bitter Queen Mother Memorial Cup dominated by Kakantu in trap 5 for Kevin Boon.
The dog turned in the fastest time of the heats, 38.83, to beat Lowgate Jasper by almost two lengths.
However, the Prestige finalist, Dinzeo, for Sheffield trainer Harry Crapper his own share of the limelight with a crushing six-and-a-quarter lengths success over kennel-mate Worsboro Phantom. Parker and Draper missed out with Droopys Gigi and Sharp Mover respectively, while the Golden Jacket finalist Black Francis for Mark Wallis also exited early.
Odds-on backers got rewarded when Touch Tackle in trap 1 for Jim Daly landed the spoils in Heat 3 having been sent off 4/5f. He launched his well-timed attack from the fifth bend to beat Coolboy Blitz for Warren by over five lengths in 38.98sec.
Kilpatrick Ted was bumped at the third and missed out for home trainer Tony McKenna and Droopys Knox for Parker never laid a glove.
14:45 Stones Bitter Queen Mother Memorial Cup Final (OR) 660m: 1 Touch Tackle, 2 Dinzeo, 3 Coolboy Blitz (m), 4 Kakantu (w), 5 Lowgate Jasper (w), 6 Worsboro Phantom (w).
