HOVE racing manager Rob Abrey is looking forward to Sunday’s semi-finals of the Coral Gold Collar (500m) and George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial (740m) as the Sussex track becomes the latest track to stage a huge Category One double-header.

Six heats apiece of the Category One competitions took place at the south coast venue last week and the stage is set for some classy semi-finals – and there is plenty of local interest in the events which, given two Hove-based legends of the sport are celebrated in the 740m contests, seems appropriate says Abrey.

“We’ve got some strong trainers in these parts so you’d always hope they would be well represented in these two great events and, of course, there’s a special place in the hearts of us here where George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob are concerned,” he said, “so seeing the likes of Derek Knight, Richard Rees, Belinda Green and Jason Heath among the winners from last week’s heats is good for the track. George spent many years towards the end of his life at Derek’s kennels, so there’s an even more special link there.

“We were blessed with classy entries for both events and having these three Sunday afternoons across the bonfire night period works well. We did it with the Gold Collar last year and thought having the Ballyregan Bob Memorial alongside could boost both events which trainers aiming string teams at them – and so it’s proved. Finals afternoon a week on Sunday (November 8) also promises to be a special day.”

Last week’s heats of the Coral Gold Collar went to Richard Rees’s fastest-of-the-day Scooby The Lady (28.79sec), Patrick Janssens’ Droopys Plunge (29.33sec), Mark Wallis’s Forgottotellya (29.22sec), Paul Young’s duo of Bowmers Wildcat (29.24sec) and Gav Nificent (29.07sec), and Belinda Green’s Bikini Bullet (28.85sec).

Heats of the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial went to Belinda Green’s fastest-of-the-day Teddie (44.53sec), Mark Wallis’s Vhagar (44.59sec), Carol Weatherall’s Frankton Ivy (44.70sec), Derek Knight’s Candolim Typhoon (44.84sec), Michelle Brown’s Drombeg Flash (44.84sec) and Jason Heath’s Minstrels Six (45.41sec).