DROOPYS CLUE made it the perfect six and created history with back-to-back wins in the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger at Perry Barr – and is clearly intent on not relinquishing his Greyhound of the Year title!

The August 2021 son of Out Of Range ASB and Droopys Natalia came through a huge test to reclaim the £20,000 prize at the Midlands venue at the weekend, on a night the track also staged the final of the M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup In Memory of Michael Lambe Senior for a huge Category One double-header.

Both races had been carried over to a week later due to heavy rain causing the early abandonment on the original date – and Droopys Clue’s trainer Seamus Cahill feels that proved a blessing in disguise to give his runner a week extra after a setback.

“We couldn’t really work him at home,” he said. “It was nothing serious but just held him up, so maybe the extra week helped him. Even so it was his courage and will-to-win that’s got him home and we’re all thrilled with him. He’s a real champion.”

Twelve months on from a runaway track record-breaking performance in the final at Perry Barr, this successful defence of the title was tougher.

Breaking smartly inside, Droopys Clue was in pole position early but was taken on by Clona Curly (Diane Henry) who hit the front rounding the third bend and put the 2-5 favourite under pressure. However, the Alex Hambi-owned runner responded and regain the initiative heading down the back second time.

Still in front off the last bend, the field were queuing up in behind to challenge. Coonough Crow (Mark Wallis) was in full flow now but, forced wide by the keeping-on Trickycinderella (Robert Holt), could not get any closer to challenge and Droopys Clue gathered himself for one final push and was going away again at the line.

Droopys Clue – or ‘Cluedo as he is fondly known – crossed the winning line three-quarters of a length clear of Clona Curly with Coonough Crow a close-up third. The winning time was 42.97sec (-20) for the 710m trip.

In the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s race, an appearance on Irish Derby final night for Droopys Clue was being considered. However, Cahill’s star will now have a substantial spell on the sidelines, although an unprecedented third crack at the St Leger in 2025 could be on the cards, all things being well.

Dan Bradshaw, deputy racing manager at Perry Barr, oversaw the St Leger/Birmingham Cup meeting and as delighted how everything panned out – in the end.

“The week before was tough for us all,” he said. “The trackstaff did everything they could but the weather beat us in the end. It was the right call to carry these two great races over and Saturday was a real buzz with two brilliant winners in Rioja Bungle (Kevin Hutton, Birmingham Cup) and Droopys Clue.

“It was certainly a different St Leger final for Cluedo – a lot tougher in many ways – but he’s showed battling qualities and guts. Remember, he’d also come here off the back of a Monmore campaign (Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic) so two Cat Ones back-to-back is some effort – as are two St Legers, which had never been done before.”