DROOPYS FLARE will line-up a red-hot favourite for Saturday’s Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger Final at Dunstall Park as the track becomes the latest to stage a Category One double-header.

Alongside the Arena Racing Company Birmingham Cup Final, the St Leger offers a first prize of £20,000 with the Sean Parker-trained runner aiming to go one better than in last year’s event when runner-up to Mongys Wild when the event was temporarily hosted by Nottingham as the finishing touches to the new track at Dunstall Park were being made.

Quickest in the heats, Droopys Flare was again fastest in the semi-finals as the Sean Parker-trained Regency winner came through powerfully again after being held up initially in the second semi.

Storming through the field and hitting the front rounding the final bends of the 715m trip, the May 2023 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dancer raced away for a four-length success over Malcolm Bosh (Angie Kibble) and Venetian Mick (Kevin Hutton), the early leader, in 43.00sec (-20).

The first semi-final went the way of Zenith Pasha as Jimmy Fenwick’s Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic third made his second Category One when also producing strong-running display to reel in early leader Lets Go Girl (Kevin Hutton) before crossing the line a length a half clear of Radical Story (Craig Morris) in 43.29sec (-20).

The draw for Saturday’s final of the stayers’ Classic sees Zenith Pasha racing from the inside-box with Droopys Flare next door – and Dan Bradshaw, Dunstall’s deputy racing manager, believes the make-up of the race could see a more competitive contest than the betting on the six-bend showpiece suggests.

“First off, with two railers, three middles and a wide, it looks a good spread and hopefully makes for a great first St Leger final here,” said Bradshaw.

“There are always ifs and buts aplenty in any greyhound race, but you sense Zenith Pasha can come away better than he did in the semis and should get first run on Droopys Flare. And we know the outside two – Venetian Mick and Lets Go Girl – will both look to dominate outside.

“Radical Story and Malcolm Bosh are stronger types as, of course, is Droopys Flare. She’s so tough, has got great trackcraft which she showed again on Saturday when it did look tricky for her until she got in the clear before halfway, and remember hasn’t been beaten here in four races. Plus she’s the track record holder!

“So all of that tells us she’s the one to beat but Pasha could make a real race of it.”

Trap draw for Saturday’s Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger Final: 1 Zenith Pasha, 2 Droopys Flare, 3 Radical Story (m), 4 Malcolm Bosh (m), 5 Venetian Mick (m), 6 Lets Go Girl (w).