RISING COCO followed up her 50-1 semi-final success with victory in the Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger Final at Crayford on Saturday – landing a popular local success for trainer Jim Reynolds and owners the Coco Cabana Racing Club in the process.

A hugely consistent performer, the October 2018 daughter of Kinloch Brae and Old Fort Dakota lined up as the oldest finalist in the £10,000 decider.

However, a fast start on the outside set up a first-bend lead, although some superb bend running was needed to see the local runner head off the quick-trapping Burgess Elite (John Mullins) off the second turn.

Thereafter, Rising Coco was in full flight and took full advantage at the head of affairs of favourite Bellmore Sally (Jimmy Fenwick) being held up on a number of occasions.

The Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket winner produced a stirring effort in behind despite a troubled run, but the winner was not stopping in front as Rising Coco crossed the line two and three-quarter lengths clear of the north-east challenger in 45.44sec (+30) for the 714m trip.

Victory landed Rising Coco a 17th career success, with all those wins coming at the Kent track over four, six and eight bends.

Runner-up in the Crayford Autumn Championship in 2020, Rising Coco also reached the final of the Peter Bussey Memorial (540m) in February which supported the Golden Jacket.

In winning the Kent St Leger, backed once again by local owner Karl Brazier in the name of his company Jay & Kay Coach Tours, the three-year-old also returned the Kent St Leger trophy to the Kent track for a first Crayford win since Droopys Tamera’s success for Dean Childs in 2015.

Leading the congratulations to Rising Coco and connections, big-race sponsor Brazier said: “I really enjoyed the whole meeting. There was excellent racing all-round and a cracking final – and I was so pleased to present the trophy to a Crayford-trained winner in Rising Coco.

“It was a brilliant training feat by Jim (Reynolds), producing Coco spot-on for the race – and she’s definitely a worthy winner of the Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger.

“I was very impressed with the amount of people at Crayford who turned up to watch. I went outside to watch the race and the terrace was packed with a buzzing atmosphere.

“A special thanks also to Peter Broadbridge (Crayford stadium manager) and all the team at the track for affording us such quality hospitality.

“It’s so good to be back and feeling the buzz again.”

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=385226&raceId=841595