Flying Zafonic hits heights at Yarmouth.

FEAR ZAFONIC failed to toe the party line when giving the slip to more fancied kennelmates Jordansoilutions and Farloe Reason in Tuesday's East Anglian Derby final.

Defeats in the second round and semi-finals saw punters desert Fear Zafonic in favour of his in-form and apparently better-drawn kennelmate Jordansoilutions.

However, once again punters, and I include myself here, failed to factor in the huge advantage the pneumatic-starting traps, currently in use at most tracks, offers to those drawn middle. As in all too many previous occasions, as soon as the lids rose, the white-vested runner emerged with a clear advantage.

When said runner is a topclass front-running hound such as Fear Zafonic, would-be challengers are immediately under pressure.

He may have surrendered a long lead in the Derby - and there were excuses for that - but on a tight circuit such as Yarmouth's there was never any danger of defeat for Fear Zafonic, who came home comfortably clear of his kennelmates.

On a track estimated to be running 20 spots fast, Fear Zafonic covered the 462-metre course in 27.57sec for a Racing Post rating of 116, a mark that is much in line with his optimum of 122.

This was a ninth win of the season for Lister's charge, who also landed the Birmingham Cup final and the Racing Post Juvenile title earlier in the year. Given the aforesaid Derby runner-up slot (to Kinda Ready) as well, he now has to be considered the leading candidate for the Greyhound of the Year title.

The win was an incredible tenth success in the seaside Classic for Charlie Lister and showed why he is, and always will be, the Derby King.

Pick of the supporting race winners at Yarmouth was undoubtedly Eye Onthe Storm, who clocked a very smart 27.69sec when winning over the four-bend course for a rating of 104.

This was a fourth consecutive victory for the Mark Wallis-trained youngster, whose wins include success in the Caffreys Puppy Classic at Nottingham.

Charlie Lister: tenth Yarmouth Derby He defeated the like of Farloe Razl and Jordansoilutions at Colwick Park, form that in itself appears solid enough, and recent efforts suggest he is still improving. He should be considered one of the season's best puppies.

Workmanlike win in Kent for Midway MIDWAY SKIPPER was registering her seventh consecutive victory when retaining her Kent St Leger title at Crayford last week.

Henry Chalkley's superb bitch went to traps a red-hot 2-7 favourite for the Category Two decider, and while she won more easily than the winning margin of one length would suggest, she was made to work for this success.

Led up by the early paced Ard Beauty, she was crowded off the second bend, leaving her tucked in behind the leader and Capel Yankee, who had by now taken up the chase.

Biding her time on the rails, Midway Skipper made her move at the penultimate corner as Capel Yankee went middle to challenge the leader, ducking inside both to emerge on terms as they turned for home.

Winner of the TV Trophy over Newcastle's 895 metres, there was never really any doubt as to who would be staying on the strongest.

In recording 45.71sec for the 714-metre course, Midway Skipper picks up a rating of only 69, well below her recent performances and considerably behind her best of the year, a mark of 125.

William Hill, sponsors of the St Leger, have chalked her up as 8-1 favourite for the stayers' Classic.

However, would-be backers should note that her record at Wimbledon, where the Leger run, is nought from six appearances and, given that the drop back to six-bend racing is far from ideal, I would be in no great rush to back her at that price.

Kiss and Seeyou both easy on the eye THE opens supporting the Kent St Leger produced two stunning and, to the eye, nighon identical performances in the four-bend races. 4 5 6 8.33 1 2 3 4 5 7.52 Givemeakiss flashed from the traps to take a commanding lead in the first of the 380-metre contests, Jenny March's local going on to win by a little over two lengths in a useful 23.42sec (+10) for a rating 75. 1 2 3 4 5 6 8.08 It was obviously ladies' night at the Kent track as, 45 minutes later, it was the turn of Seeyou Wednesday to make a similar swift exit and a subsequent most impressive victory. 1 2 3 4 5 6 8.38 1 2 3 4 5 6 Two lengths clear at the first turn, Jean Carter's bitch streaked clear of her rivals down the back-straight to win unchallenged by six lengths, recording an excellent 23.21sec (+10) for a rating of 96.

11.11 11.28 11.42 11.57 12.12 12.27 12.42 12.58 A December 05 whelp, Seeyou Wednesday is no youngster and, it has to be said, previous efforts outside the county of Kent could be generously described as moderate. However, on the evidence of this performance the old girl will be difficult to beat on home soil.

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