DROOPYS FLARE duly landed the odds and claimed a first Category One title with a brilliant show of pace and power – and trackcraft – in the final of the Coral Regency at Hove.

Completing an unbeaten run through the 695m event, Sean Parker’s pride and joy once again gave her rivals a start and a beating, coming through to claim the £20,000 first prize for her Sheffield-based trainer and part-owner Parker, who shares the May 2023 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dancer with John Stubbings.

Led early by Bonus Bullet (Belinda Green) who set a good tempo up front, last year’s St Leger and this year’s Golden Jacket runner-up picked her way through the field before launching a challenge.

Hitting the front approaching the last bend, seizing a gap on the inside, Droopys Flare raced away for the spoils, crossing the line three and a half lengths clear of the always-handy Croydon Rory and the tiring Bonus Bullet in 41.50sec (-15).

Adding the Regency title to her Queen Mother Cup and Greatbet Challenge Trophy wins at  Sheffield and Towcester respectively, plus success at last year’s Winter Racing Festival at Shelbourne, Droopys Flare was landing a first Category One triumph at the fourth attempt and thoroughly deserved the win, said Hove racing manager Rob Abrey.

He said: “It was a breathtaking night of racing in Sussex. Five finals over four distances felt like a throwback to the old days. A proper night of racing with plenty of thrills.

“Droopys Flare finally got her paws on her first Category One trophy and well deserved it was, too. She’s a real crowd pleaser and raced through the competition unbeaten for Sean (Parker) and John (Stubbings).

“Smokestack Saxon landed a fairytale win for the Smokestack Syndicate who bought him as a three-month-old puppy for what they described as peanuts!

“He won the coveted Sussex Cup which has been a mainstay on the open-race Calendar since 1971. His name is now on the winners’ board alongside greats such as Toms The Best and Barnfield On Air.

“Avarua Lake took advantage of a great draw and made all in the £3,000 Coral Sussex Cup Sprint Trophy to take the spoils for Richard Rees who had a one-two here with Shadow Storm, the reigning GBGB Sprinter of the Year, crossing the line in second.

“Draws can mean everything at the highest level so well done to Avarua Lake’s owner Julian Buttrick.”

 

Photos: Steve Nash