HOVE racing manager Rob Abrey was full of praise for Derek Knight and his team after Candolim Monsoon continues his fairytale return to the track in the Coral Sussex Cup, an event he won last year.

The defending champion, very much a railer, oozed class as he overcame a tough draw before leading at the bend off the back of a slick start on his way to a two-length victory over King Combs (Liz McNair) and Gingers Rubin (Patrick Browne) in 29.84sec (normal), remarkably the fastest of the six heat winners.

“You’d have to say that was fantastic and testament to the work of Derek (Knight), Maria (Ansbro) and the team at Albourne,” said Abrey. “Monsoon had pretty much been retired after damaging his shoulder last year and they were looking at maybe one of the owners taking him as a pet, but he was nursed back to fitness and has looked as good as ever.

“He trialled well and then won his first race at the back-end of last month. He had his favoured trap one then, but Saturday from the four-box was definitely a tricky prospect on paper but he’s kicked on and won well and now faces a clash in the semis with Romeo Command, who’s had his own issues but is running well again.

“Of course, we’ve also got the Greyhound of the Year here on Saturday again! Fair play to Droopys Clue for winning his heat and making the semis. He was tanking in behind his rivals but just couldn’t get the split before coming through. To be fair he showed great trackcraft and it’s going to take a good one to beat him you feel.

“Then again we’ve got quite a few good ones in both the (Coral) Sussex Cup and (Premier Greyhound Racing) Regency semis and they’ll help make for a brilliant card because we’ve also got the heats of the Coral Dual Distance Trophy over 500m with a 515m final and heats of the Coral Sussex Cup  Sprint Trophy over 285m.”

The Patrick Janssens-trained Romeo Command was next quickest in the Sussex Cup heats, leading off the second bend to follow up his BGBF TruFrame Champion Stakes on Derby final night to score from Miami Bullet (Paul Young) and early leader Antigua Forky (Jason Heath) in 29.94sec (normal) for the 515m trip.

Newinn Benni then initiated a double for Derek Knight in heat two as a burst of early pace laid the foundations for a half-length success from the staying-on Antigua Bingo (Jason Heath) and Clona Curly (Diane Henry) in 30.00sec (normal), before Candolim Monsoon’s heat four victory raised the roof for connections.

Greyhound of the Year Droopys Clue’s 30.16sec (normal) heat five victory over Clona Uriel (Derek Knight) and Uncle Freddie (Richard Rees) was only by a short-head after being held up for much of the way before coming through with a powerful run, a victory sandwiched between a double for another Hove trainer in Belinda Green.

Green’s Wasted Monday struck in heat four, racing away for a near-eight length win in 30.01sec (normal) over Ower Mystery (June Harvey) and Joes Sagar, a kennelmate of the winner, before heat six went to another Green runner in Beaming Panther who paced up into contention rounding the opening bends before holding the rallying Newinn Syd (Mark Wallis) and Never Say No (Seamus Cahill) by a head in 30.31sec (normal).

Ower Mystery has subsequently been withdrawn from the semi-finals which means trap one in the second semi-final of the Coral Sussex Cup will be vacant.

Form and trap draw for Saturday’s semi-finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Brighton-Hove/form-guides/Sat-20th-July-Form-Adv.pdf