DROOPYS FLARE will head to targets either in the UK or Ireland as the sport’s newest Classic champion after winning the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger Final at Dunstall Park.

The first time the now 715m contest has been staged at the track at Wolverhampton Racecourse after many years at Perry Barr and last year at Nottingham, its temporary home, Sean Parker’s star went one better than 12 months previously when second to Mongys Wild when taking the £20,000 prize – but only just.

In a thrilling race for the Category One title, one of two major events at the weekend given the Arena Racing Company Birmingham Cup Final was also on the card, won by Jimmy Fenwick’s now four-time Category One winner Woltemade, Droopys Flare added a second Category One title to her two Category Twos in the St Leger decider.

Part-owned by Sean Parker and John Stubbings, the Coral Regency winner was led into the bend by Zenith Pasha (Jimmy Fenwick) but got herself into a handy position behind the leader off the second bend and launched a challenge thereafter, albeit Zenith Pasha was not about to relinquish the advantage easily.

Keeping up the gallop down the back, Droopys Flare steadily wore down the leader, moving to the front inside off the last bend, but then having to dig deep to repel the renewed challenge of Zenith Pasha with Malcolm Bosh (Angie Kibble) playing his part in a brilliant and cracking finish, producing a huge late challenge to join issue.

However, it was Droopys Flare who held her rivals at bay to score by a short-head and a head from Zenith Pasha and Malcolm Bosh in 43.17sec (-15).

Chris Black, stadium manager at Dunstall Park, said: “I’m not sure we could have asked for a better St Leger final for the first one here.

“I’m sure many people thought Droopys Flare was going to win easily when they hit the winning line first time but Zenith Pasha is proving himself a top stayer – and then Malcolm Bosh came from nowhere.

“And having seen Woltemade show himself to be one of the best when winning the Birmingham Cup, it made for a fantastic night all round.

“We’re now looking forward to another major double header with the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks starting a week on Saturday (October 3) and the Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup kicking off a week later, so it’s certainly a busy time here which is great.”