MELODYS Comet and Jolly Poacher, shining stars of the Richard Yeates kennel, have moved to Nick Colton’s outfit.

Yeates steered Poacher to a unique treble at Oxford – the Maiden Derby, Oxfordshire Stakes and Gold Cup.

“It’s always sad to lose top dogs,” said Yeates. “But I couldn’t agree with some of the owners demands.

“However, it is up to them, the dogs were great, but the owners were hard work.”

Colton, has a dual attachment between Oxford and Swindon and is a double champion trainer at Oxford.

Melodys Comet won eight open races at Romford and was beaten only by a neck in the William Hill Cesarewitch, while Jolly Poacher was unbeaten in six races at Oxford.

Meanwhile, Yeates’s Freedom Emma trotted up in style in the ARC meeting in Swindon.

She was six spots off the track record and went faster than the principle ARC victor.

However, sloppy work by a kennel hand caused the opening race, covered live by Sky to be declared void after trap five still had his winter jacket on.

It caused plenty of discussion, and many bookmakers still paid out on the result.

  • OXFORD Stadium stage its Mothers Day meeting on March 14.

Tickets for the three-course meal, which includes a gifts cost £20 each.