QUEENIES RAINBOW, a semi-finalist in the Puppy Derby at Henlow, came of age in some style when clocking the fastest time in the heats of the Coral Greyhound Olympic at Hove on Thursday.

The January 17 son of Droopys Jet and Live Queen, a half-sister of top stayer Droopys Live, was completing an Olympic heat double for trainer Seamus Cahill as he led approaching the third bend in heat three to win going way by five and a half lengths from Noelles Phelpso in 30.01sec (-10).

Kennelmate Sporting Dave (pictured above), runner-up in the recent Essex Vase final, had earlier returned to the scene of his Sussex Cup triumph in the best possible fashion as he landed the odds in heat one, pacing up to make all the running over the 515m trip, clocking 30.03sec (-10) as he crossed the line ahead of Headford Maurice.

The latter is trained by Kevin Boon, who struck in heat four with Nans Padjoe as the 14-1 chance justified kennel confidence in making all in 30.02sec, winning by half a length from Matt Dartnall’s Toast Of London, with Sussex Cup runner-up Trade Fudge (Daniel Brabon) a further half a length back in third.

Winning trainer Boon said: “I always thought he was overpriced – and told anyone who’d listen to get on the 20-1 for the heat which was available! He’s a 28.66sec Waterford winner and had won a couple of races at Romford in fair clocks. He’s got a great turn of foot into the bend and that will always serve him well.

“What did concern me was getting the trip. Waterford’s quite an easy 525yds, and he’s a dog who puts it all in. There’s a week between heats and semis which helps and he’ll get stronger, but that speed will serve him well in a lot of competitions next year. It’s a hard draw in the semis, but hopefully he can improve.”

Of Headford Maurice, Boon added: “It’s great to have both dogs in the semis, and I’m delighted I entered Maurice. Hove’s four bends is like 550m anywhere else, the long straights help him and he’ll gallop through the field. If I could just get him out, he’d be dangerous.

Incidentally, Boon reports his Sheldan fine after her fifth place behind the impressive Queen Beyonce in the final of the Coral Sussex Puppy Trophy, the track’s first competition over the new 490m distance. “I think she was winded by a bump at the first bend, and dropped out, but she gathered herself and was running on well late.

“She was the youngest finalist and will improve. I’ll enter her at Romford on Friday, but win or lose next year she’ll be one of the kennel’s main players. Losing Murrys Act and then Shaneboy Freddie to retirement means a real hole was left in the kennel this year, but we’re rebuilding. There’s been some buying and selling in recent weeks!”

Back to the Sussex Cup, and Rising Brandy made a hugely encouraging return as he stayed on strongly to fail narrowly to reel in kennelmate Lets Be Ready (30.21sec -10) in heat two for a Matt Dartnall-trained one-two. Rising Brandy made the Derby semi-finals having won the Monmore Puppy Derby in the spring.

The other heats were won by the John Mullins-trained Romeo Mandate (30.09sec), who led home another Cahill qualifier in Droopys Nirvana and kennelmate Rackethall Jess in heat five, while Kevin Hutton’s Ballymac Osby (30.17sec) made all from Droopys Gold (Seamus Cahill) in the sixth and final qualifier.

Trap draw for Thursday’s semi-finals:-

First semi: 1 Toast Of London, 2 Rising Brandy, 3 Noelles Phelpso, 4 Ballymac Osby, 5 Headford Maurice (m), 6 Droopys Nirvana (w).

Second semi: 1 Volcanic Reef, 2 Sporting Dave, 3 Lets Be Ready, 4 Dower Rory, 5 Rackethall Jess (m), 6 Queenies Rainbow (m).

Third semi: 1 Romeo Mandate, 2 King Turbo, 3 White Horse Won, 4 Droopys Gold (m), 5 Nans Padjoe (m), 6 Trade Fudge (w).