GOLDIES HODDLE landed trainer Patrick Janssens a second GBGB Category One prize of 2020 when producing a career-best performance to land the Coral Golden Sprint Final at Romford on Friday, just a few weeks after the same trainer’s Skilful Sandie’s won the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket.

Lining up in one of the most open Golden Sprint finals in the competition’s 30-year plus history, a foot-perfect Goldies Hoddle ensured the £10,000 first prize once again went to the red-jacketed runner after victories for Union Jack (2019), Forest Chunk (2018) and Clondoty Alex (2017) in the three previous years.

A fast break inside saw the Andy Pelley-owned runner quickly take charge of the 400m contest as the April 2017 son of Droopys Sydney and Silver Dollar made all to score by two and a quarter lengths from Tiffield Blueboy (Mark Wallis) in 23.86sec (+10).

“I always thought he had a great chance on the draw, but he had to do it right – and he did,” said Patrick Janssens. “He’s a fast dog when breaking like that and it’s just fantastic given we’ve had him since three months old. He and his brother (Goldies) Ginola have won something like 23 opens between them.

“They’ve been good sorts right from the start. I was at the track one night and saw Roxholme Nidge trial when he was a pup. He caught my eye and I phoned up the breeder straight away to see if there was anything from the dam Silver Dollar’s next litter. He said there was three left – so I took them all!

“They were reared here and then schooled by Nick (Savva) and Andy (Ioannou) and they liked them, too. Hoddle has just been really consistent and a good dog for Andy (Pelley, owner). He’s a great supporter of the kennel and I’m grateful to him and also my wife Cheryl, Ria, Luke and Ron Mills for all their hard work.”

Pelley himself was celebrating a second major success of the year after Goldies Symnsy’s success in the Peter Bussey Memorial at Crayford, supporting the Golden Jacket which the Janssens camp also won!

“I was always hopeful of a big run given his draw inside. I knew if he could get away, he was running well enough to win the Golden Sprint, but to actually do so is fantastic. Look at the time, too! Well done to Patrick and his team who’ve produced him in brilliant form for this competition.

“It’s great to win at Romford, too. This is a special track for us – we’ve had many good nights here, many when Goldies Hotspur was running. You all know the Spurs links now – so Hoddle probably tops the lot! The man himself tweeted about it, which was also great. It’s been a terrific night for all the family.”