NEWINN BENNI made it back-to-back wins in the event for trainer Derek Knight – and landed him a fifth title in all – when dominating the Coral Sussex Cup Final with a pillar-to-post victory over 515m at Hove.

Helping Hove handler Knight to a record-equalling haul in the famous four-bend Category One, matching the late George Curtis’s feat, Newinn Benni emulated Candolim Monsoon’s success last year and added to the kennel’s Sussex Cup successes with Astrosyn Eulogy (1998), Smoking Bullet (2000) and Lozzas Dream (2002).

Breaking quickly from the outside slot, the April 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Newinn Cuckoo raced to a 4.21sec sectional which soon had his rivals strung out behind which, combined with crowding for market leaders Romeo Command (11-8F) and Droopys Clue (7-4), saw the Hove-based star in charge on his way to success.

Always likely to come back to his field in the later stages, the strapping near 37-kilo nevertheless took his chance well and, while Wasted Monday (Belinda Green) kept on well in his second successive Sussex Cup final, and Greyhound of the Year Droopys Clue flew home, Newinn Benni still had a length in hand at the line in 29.75sec (+20).

Wasted Monday finished second, just in front of Droopys Clue (Seamus Cahill) who powered up the home straight to finish just a head behind. A case of what might have been  for the (Premier Greyhound Racing) St Leger champion, winning trainer Knight pointed out that, on so many occasions, draws win races.

“It certainly helped – and we’re all delighted with Benni,” he said of the Jamie Cooper, Leo McNulty and Glen Stokes-owned runner – the trio making up the Rinn Prem OCL Syndicate. The youngest in the decider, Knight also fielded another finalist in Clona Uriel, a finalist in last year’s Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby at Monmore.

“He’s a really nice dog. He came to us from the owners at the backend of last year and you could see he had a lot of pace. He won his first two graded races and was always a threat if clearing them early – actually the Sussex Cup was his first go over 515m and the longer run to the bend helped him, although he certainly doesn’t want any further.

“We might give him a go at Monmore for the (Ladbrokes) Gold Cup,” said Knight of the litter brother of Newcastle Puppy Derby champion Clona Curly, bred by Shari-Anne O’Donnell. “It’s a front runner’s track, but we’ll see how he is after a few days off.

“Either way, it’s great to win the Sussex Cup and in front of a good crowd – there was definitely a buzz there, so well done to all concerned.

“Much was made of us winning last year’s Sussex Cup with Monsoon, some 21 years after winning our previous Sussex Cup with Lozzas Dream – so we’re like a London bus now! But if you’re still getting the dogs – and we are – then we’ll give it a go. But a lot of the credit must go to Maria (Ansbro) and also Natalie, Julie and Nigel.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=414304&raceId=1056286