DROOPYS DAZZLER led an Angela Harrison-trained treble in the heats of the Arena Racing Company Classic at Sunderland on Thursday, clocking a fastest-of-the-night 27.06sec in heat three of the GBGB Category One event.

A winner on BresBet Steel City Cup Final night at Sheffield on Saturday as part of a four-timer for the Newcastle kennel, Harrison’s team continued its fine run with three of the six heat winners – with the April 2018 son of Droopys Jet and Droopys Blossom making all to set the standard in the 450m competition, winning by three and a quarter lengths from Danish Dynamite (Tom Heilbron).

Moanteen Mikey had earlier landed another trap-to-line success for the Harrison camp in heat two as he held on by a short-head from Borna Dime (Peter Ancell), with Ladbrokes Gold Cup winner Minglers Popeye (Stuart Tighe) finishing a close-up third here. The winning time was 27.22sec.

The Harrison treble was completed by Coolavanny Galiv who produced another front-running victory in heat five off the back of a fastest 4.75sec sectional as he crossed the line half a length in front of Hurleys Spring (Peter Richardson) in 27.44sec.

Mindhowyougo starred in the opening heat one as the ex-Irish racer continued his impressive UK record since joining Newcastle handler Stuart Tighe with a fluent all-the-way success from George Cunningham’s Lav Yin Yak by two lengths in 27.22sec.

A winner of four of his five starts since joining Tighe, the June 2019 son of Sparta Maestro and Dark Vanity helped make it a good night for Tighe who saw his Category One winner Minglers Popeye make an encouraging return to the track with a close-up third in heat two.

He said: “I actually thought Popeye was a little unfortunate not to win after a moderate break by his standards, but we’re very happy he went through and the run last night should’ve pulled him round to come on again for the semi-final next week.”

Of Mindhowyougo, Tighe added: “He’s a dog I picked out of the Bar One Sprint at Dundalk. He showed electric pace in the heat but ran into trouble and was unluckily knocked out. We contacted Seamus McGarry who kindly sold him to my owners Dave Malone, Richard Colquhoun, Mark Bates and Kelly Macari. As shown last night he’s blessed with early and the 450m at Sunderland looks made for him. All being well he’ll be aimed at the National Sprint at Nottingham in December.

“Both dogs have come out of their races really well so we’re looking forward too next week. Sonic Emjay, who did well for us last week, will also be entered for the 261m event.”

The other Arc Classic heats were won by Harry Burton’s Slangevar Tommy, who led at the third bend before beating Clona Smokey (Robert Galloway) by a length and a quarter in heat four in 27.44sec, while a good night for Tom Heilbron was completed by a one-two for the kennel as Freedom Whisky caught Little Venture at the third bend to win by half a length in 27.22sec.

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=379069&raceId=788674

Trap draw for Thursday’s semis: https://www.sunderland-greyhounds.co.uk/racing/results/