DROOPYS FLARE lit up Central Park with a new 731m track record as the first Category One competition of the season, the Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch, produced the goods at the heat stage.

Six heats of the six-bend traditional Classic took place at the Sittingbourne venue with the major highlights being victory for defending champion Garfiney Blaze and success for an exciting and well-bred youngster from Sheffield in the shape of the Sean Parker-trained Droopys Flare.

Lining up in heat four, the sister of crack Irish bitch Droopys Kathleen produced a powerful off-the-pace victory to cross the line six lengths clear of the running-on Hopiehopiehopie in 43.87sec (normal). The time for the May 2023 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dancer was inside the previous best of 44.05sec, held by a certain Garfiney Blaze.

Indeed, Mark Wallis celebrated sealing his 15th Trainer of the Year title a few days earlier with success for last year’s winner, who saved one of the best runs for last with a three and a quarter length over Breton Molly (Patrick Janssens). The latter had led early but had no answer to the back-straight surge of Garfiney Blaze.

Garfiney Blaze’s winning time was 44.04sec (normal) as the recent George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob Memorial champion franked the form of the Hove race – just as Droopys Flotilla, the narrow runner-up then, had in heat three.

Nathan Hunt’s bang-in-form bitch scooted clear again, as had been the case at the Sussex venue, but was not for reeling in this time as she raced away for a two and a quarter lengths victory over Unanimous Madam (Richard Rees) in 44.26sec (normal).

Like Sean Parker, Patrick Janssens has a nice young stayer in his kennel in the shape of Fabulous Heka who opened her account at the fourth time of asking as the February 23 daughter of Romeo Magico and Fabulous Bella railed into the lead at the third time before stretching on for a five and a half lengths win in 44.13sec (normal).

Other Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch heat winners were Barry O’Sullivan’s Head Count in heat one, the hot favourite coming through strongly at the penultimate bend for a two and a half lengths win over Swift Giddy (Jason Gornall), and the David Lewis-trained Alright Gordy in heat five.

The latter finished third to Garfiney Blaze in last year’s Cesarewitch final and once again takes her place in the semis after the October 2021 son of Out Of Range ASB and Beaming Brae led off the second bend for a two and a half lengths win over favourite Droopys Vivacity (Gemma Evans) in 44.22sec (normal).

Rob Killingbeck, Central Park racing manager, said: “We’re delighted to be hosting the Arc Cesarewitch for the third year. It’s a famous race with a great history – and we look set for another really good competition this year.

“We were delighted with the number and quality of entries and Saturday’s heats went well. I know she was beaten in the heats, but Droopys Vivacity showed enough for me to think she can go close, although Droopys Flare was pretty sensational. She looks a really special bitch from Sheffield.”

Trap draw for Saturday’s semi-finals: https://www.centralpark-greyhounds.co.uk/racing/