KEVIN FERGUSON produced the breeding and training performance of the night by sending out littermates Acomb Irene and Acomb Felix to land their heats of the Arena Racing Company Laurels at Perry Barr on Saturday.

Members of the crack Ferguson-bred March 2021 Hiya Butt and Acomb Ruby litter which enjoyed great success in last month’s British Breeders Stakes at Nottingham, Acomb Felix landed the big-race spoils then with Acomb Irene second – and both were impressive winners of their heats over 480m at the weekend.

Acomb Irene was quickest on the clock in heat three as a good burst of early pace set up a three-and-a-half length victory over Blake Delight (Kevin Boon) in 28.24sec (-10), in a heat in which red-hot favourite King Capaldi (Liz McNair) was eliminated back in fifth after pecking out of the traps off a moderate exit.

Acomb Irene’s litter brother Acomb Felix struck in heat five, overcoming crowding on the run to the bend to just lead at the turn before racing away to win by three lengths from local hope Swift Prank (John Rigby) in 28.44sec (-10).

The Tom Heilbron-trained Links Maverick, a May 2021 son of Grangeview Ten out of Havana Lottie, kicked off the heats with a classy victory in heat one, always handy before coming through to lead at the third bend before extending the advantage to win by two and a quarter lengths from Bettys Jack (Kevin Boon) in 28.36sec (-10).

The Phil Barlow-trained Wicky Hiker scored an impressive win in heat two as the June 2021 son of Ballymac Best and Clares Queen always led for a two and a half lengths win in 28.32sec (-10), leading home another Ferguson-owned, bred and trained littermate Acomb Johnny, the British Breeders Stakes third.

Kevin Hutton’s Jet Stream Angel, who has been awarded the Oaks since her previous visit to Perry Barr, made a successful return to the Birmingham track in heat four with an show of all-round pace to lead early before crossing the line two and a quarter lengths in front of locally trained Fair Joe (John Lambe).

The winner, a September 2021 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Jetstream Lynx, clocked 28.46sec (-10), while Angie Kibble’s Eze rounded off the heats with a powerful victory in what proved an eventful heat six after Front Alice (Kevin Proctor) and then Aero Sacundai (Richie Taberner) led before the latter cramped.

Eze came through strongly to strike the front off the third bend for a four-and-half-lengths win over Inca Gerry (Phil Barlow) and Golden Sprint winner Front Alice in 28.43sec (-10).

Perry Barr racing manager Martin Seal is looking forward to Saturday’s semis, commenting: “I thought the heats had everything. We had the usual mix of top performances and surprise results and the stage is set for another cracking night’s racing here on Saturday.

“I thought it was a thoroughly professional performance from Tom’s (Heilbron) Links Maverick who looks firmly on course for a big say in the competition, but fair play also to Kevin Ferguson with the three ‘Acombs’ also through to the semis. All tracks come alike to this fantastic litter and Irene especially caught the eye.

“Well done to Phil Barlow who qualified three runners from his four entries – the Barlow kennel is absolutely flying just now – and to Angie Kibble with Eze. He’s obviously named after the Crystal Palace player, so what a weekend for both Ezes given the win here and Eze scoring Palace’s goal in their win against Liverpool!

“We’ve got five Perry Barr representatives through to the penultimate stage and the local talent is certainly not out of its depth on the big stage, while it’s clear Jet Stream Angel has a love affair with the track here – the Oaks and Laurels double might be on.”

Trap draw for Saturday’s semi-finals:-

First semi: 1 Jet Stream Angel, 2 Acomb Felix, 3 Vixons Filofax, 4 Eze (m), 5 Acomb Johnny (w), 6 Strideaway Roxy (w).

Second semi: 1 Tullymurry Jenga, 2 Swift Prank, 3 Fair Joe (m), 4 Brickwork Ruck (m), 5 Inca Gerry (w), 6 Kilwest Ranger (w).

Third semi: 1 Links Maverick, 2 Wicky Hiker, 3 Front Alice (m), 4 Acomb Irene (m), 5 Blake Delight (w), 6 Bettys Jack (w).