AAYAMZA SYDNEY (pictured) was narrowly quickest as the semi-finals of the M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup In Memory of Michael Lambe Senior provided three winners separated by just six spots – giving a really competitive feel to Saturday’s £12,500-to-the-winner final at the Midlands track.

Playing chief supporting role to the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger Final, in which Greyhound of the Year Droopys Clue is a hot favourite, another powerful runner in Aayamza Sydney will look to maintain his unbeaten record in the competition in the 480m Category One decider.

The John Mullins-trained runner, lining up in the third semi-final, gave best early to local star Darley Diglake (Robert Hall) and Monmore raider Aghaburren Beau (Brian Thompson) but came through with a strong run rounding the last bend to hit the front on the run for home for a length success in 28.00sec (normal).

Runner-up to Roxys Bullet in the Coral Essex Vase at Romford in January before returning to the London Road track to win the Rosebowl in April, Aayamza Sydney had not seen since being knocked out in the heats of the (Star Sports) English Derby at Towcester, but has arrived at Perry Barr in great heart.

Mullins said: “He cracked a hock so needed plenty of time, which we gave him, and thankfully he’s come back well. Remember he’d done a a couple of 28.80sec runs at Towcester and we were looking forward to the Derby but things just didn’t work out. The Birmingham Cup and Perry Barr seemed right for him.

“Over this trip there’s always a chance one of the front runners might get away and that’s going to be the same on Saturday, but he’s in good form.”

The Birmingham Cup semi-finals kicked off with victory for the Tom Heilbron-trained Unanimous Leon who came through a battle with Cunnigar Yousir (Nathan Hunt) early before racing clear for a two and three-quarter length success over Tricky Wiggles (Robert Holt) in 28.06sec (normal).

It means winning handler Heilbron will have two Category One finalists this week given he is doubly represented with litter brothers Romeo Cypher and Romeo Crusade in Thursday’s 78th BGBF Two-Year-Old Produce Stakes Final at Swindon, while the runner-up’s trainer Robert Holt is involved in both major deciders at Perry Barr on Saturday given Tricky Wiggles’s kennelmate Trickycinderella runs in the PGR St Leger final.

There was another cracking battle for the lead in the second semi-final as Long Fellow (Matt Dartnall) started well from his midfield slot and made most of the running before being joined on the line by the Kevin Hutton-trained Rioja Bungle who edged the Oxford raider by a short-head in 28.03sec (normal).

Hutton is also now set for a busy week given he, too, is well represented in the Produce Stakes Final at Swindon with three finalists, as well as Rioja Bungle at Perry Barr.

Trap draw for Saturday’s M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup In Memory of Michael Lambe Senior Final: 1 Rioja Bungle, 2 Unanimous Leon, 3 Long Fellow, 4 Aayamza Sydney, 5 Tricky Wiggles (m), 6 Darley Diglake (m).