BLACKSTONE OPERA landed Seamus Cahill a second Brighton Belle title when landing a 16-1 surprise in the Coral-backed £10,000 Category One at Hove – on a night the track’s racing manager Rob Abrey said had everything.

“We had three cracking finals, plenty of local success, and another appearance here from one of the biggest stars in greyhound racing,” said Abrey after the Sussex track once again supported the Brighton Belle with the Hove Puppy Cup Final and the Coral Sprint Trophy, and had plenty of supporting opens, one of which included another impressive 695m romp from Mark Wallis’s champion Mongys Wild.

“Mongys Wild was fantastic here again – he just loves Hove,” added Abrey, “but what Blackstone Opera did in the main event was also fantastic. I know it ended up being a crowded race, but all the greyhounds finished fine, and well done to connections of Blackstone Opera who did everything right to defy her odds with what was a terrific front-running performance.”

The May 2024 daughter of Dromana Bucko and Blackstone Lacey trapped well and soon held a position into the bend and, with hot favourite Strike It Skye missing the break before scrimmaging at the turn saw the likes of Aayamza Shazza (John Mullins) and Raebella Bullet (Belinda Green) also lose all chance – the latter took a tumble but was quickly back on her feet – Seamus Cahill’s bitch was on her way to success.

Keeping up the gallop, Blackstone Opera crossed the line four lengths clear of Teddie (Belinda Green) and Alright Twinkle (David Lewis) to clock 29.37sec (normal) and emulate the winning kennel’s Brighton Belle success in 2016 with Banabane.

“Well done to Seamus and Teresa and the bitch’s owners,” added Abrey of the Dennis Hodgkins, David Lock, Johney Murphy and Brendan O’Reilly-owned two-year-old, who started her UK career at Oxford in a trial stakes for the bet365 Puppy Oaks last December.

“She was obviously well thought of right from the start and has won a good few races here now,” said Abrey. “Once she won a trial stakes for the Brighton Belle we knew she was a player and she ran on really strongly in the semis behind Strike It Skye who was off the front. Hindsight is a great thing but that line of form was probably underplayed somewhat if she was allowed to go off a 16-1 chance in the final!”

Abrey continued: “Overall it was a brilliant night. We had another local winner with Ricky Holloway’s Rapido Benny in the Hove Puppy Cup, while congratulations also go to Maxine Locke and her team for fielding Beaming Isla (16.15sec, 285m) to win the Coral Sprint Trophy. Maxine’s team are always to be respected on the road.”