DROOPYS FLARE will line up a hot favourite to claim her first Category One title when Sean Parker’s brilliant bitch goes in Saturday’s Coral Regency Final at Hove.

Part of a major double header at the seaside venue with the final of the Coral Sussex Cup also on the card, the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket and PGR St Leger runner-up will look to add to Category Two titles at Sheffield in the Queen Mother Cup and at Towcester in the Greatbet Challenge Trophy at Towcester.

A runaway winner of her semi-final at Hove on Saturday, Droopys Flare posted the fastest time of the night over the 695m trip to rubber-stamp her claims to Saturday’s £10,000 prize as she followed up an 11 and a half lengths win in the heats with a six and a half lengths win over Unthinkable (Seamus Cahill) in 41.41sec (-15) in the third semi.

Even more impressive in terms of winning distance was the Jamie Kingsley’s improving local Croydon Rory who made it three wins from four in the UK with a 13-length victory over Fabulous Heka (Patrick Janssens) in the first semi in 41.75sec (-15), while Belinda Green’s Bonus Bullet also struck for the locals in the second semi.

The Liam Dowling-bred runner, a litter sister of the Irish handler’s Derby finalist Ballymac Iroko, came through a duel with Bella Bullet (Paul Young) for a head victory in 42.55sec (-15) and delighted winning handler Green.

The Hove trainer said: “We’ve always thought a lot of her ever since she won her first race for us in the Puppy Oaks at Oxford and then was unlucky not to make the final after finishing third in the semis after not the clearest of runs.

“She’s not had a lot of racing but ran a stiff four bends well so 575m at Romford, which she’s won over, and now 695m at Hove just shows you were will to win. Stamina-wise I’d say at the top level this trip is as far as she wants, but we’re happy with the draw in trap one and, who knows, she might be the one they have to catch. That’s the hope!”

Saturday’s Coral Regency Final at Hove shares the stage with the Coral Sussex Cup Final, plus three other finals with the Coral 100 Years Graded Sweepstake Final, the Coral 500 Standard Trophy Final and the Coral Sussex Cup Sprint Trophy.

 

Photos: © Steve Nash