Thursday 26th March 2009

ROSWELL STARTREK (Star)
(Crash-Not So Dark)
September 06 - W/Bk D

Owner - Evan and Mark Herbert
27 Races - 11 Wins (10 Opens)

Last week's Trainers Championship meeting at Sheffield was totally dominated by Charlie Lister's team but our sole winner on the night was Roswell Startrek who covered the 500m trip in a fine 28.97 (+30) when winning by 2 3/4 lengths.

This was 'Star's' 11th win in 27 starts in a lightly raced career to date. His first two races in A6 grade at Walthamstow back in May last year proved a tough introduction including a k.o in his second race. After taking in a puppy open at Romford, where he again found trouble, he returned to the Stow in a P7 where he showed his potential winning in a good 29.25. This was to be his last graded race and a further open win at the Stow again stamped him as a pup with a bright future but it was the run in his 9th race on Aug 2nd that set tongues wagging. Breaking fast he led round the first bend to pull right away from his rivals to record a scorching 28.78.

After three more runs in puppy opens we decided to chuck him in the deep end by entering him in the East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth. After winning the first two rounds he ran superblyto be 2nd in the semi-final behind Ninja Jamie to qualify for the £20,000 final. When he missed his break it was always going to be hard and with Ninja Jamie running away with the title he could only finish 5th, a splendid effort getting to the final. Two wins followed at Coventry before a heat win over Droopys Carvalho in the All England Cup at Newcastle before being eliminated in the semi behind eventual winner Boherna Best,. A return to Coventry gave Star his first competition win when taking the final of the Bookmakers November Standard by nearly 6 lengths in a good 29.45.

A first round exit in the Christmas Festival 480m at Monmore in unfavourable conditions gave us the chance to give him a winter break returning in February for a crack at the Arc at Swindon only to be unlucky when struck into down the back straight in the first round. Back to winning ways at Coventry before his Sheffield win, we should look to a big year in store for this son of Crash - Not So Dark. His next target will be in the £10,000 to the winner Blue Riband at Hall Green before he enters the Derby. One thing for sure this wonderfully natured dog will give his best.