FROMPOSTTOPILLAR, trained by Liz McNair for the KSS Syndicate, rubber-stamped his rising star status by landing a brilliant victory in the final of the Coral Olympic at Hove on Saturday.

 

Quickly into stride when it mattered most after missing the break in his semi-final, the November 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Rafa Babys Baby was soon in control of the £10,000-to-the-winner GBGB Category One decider and raced away from his rivals to score by a magnificent six and a half lengths from the Patrick Janssens-trained pair of Deelish Frankie and Lautaro. The winning time for the 515m trip was 29.78sec (-20).

 

The victory delighted connections, with Rab McNair and part-owner Ian Openshaw on hand to collect the famous trophy, first run for back in 1947 at Wandsworth, before switching to Charlton, and then being revived in 1979 at Hove. Victory for Fromposttopillar was a third Olympic title for the McNairs and the KSS Syndicate after back-to-back wins for King Turbo (2018) and King Sheeran (2019) a few years back.

 

Delighted with the performance of the two-year-old and how he is progressing, Rab McNair said: “Everyone knows how much I rate this greyhound, and you always hope you’re right about them, and thankfully I have been with this one!

 

“I always hoped he’d come good in the final. Last week in the semis he was just too fresh and because of the weather I couldn’t do a lot with him. He likes to work, loves it really, and he was much calmer this time. He’s still green, a work in progress if you like, but has this incredible raw pace and is a joy to handle – and what a great field he has beaten. This was a high-class Olympic final and we’re all delighted.

 

“And I think it feels even better because after the semis last week I was pretty sure he hadn’t made the final. I walked off the track with him thinking he’d not made it. He’d showed amazing pace to recover but it was still a surprise to me when I got back to the paddock! So once he trapped in the final I knew he had a great chance.

 

“He won the (RPGTV) Puppy Collar at Oxford even though Oxford wasn’t really his track – his class and pace helped him there. But he’s come into his own at Hove and tracks like that one, Towcester and Central Park, really play to his strengths – they’re a true test of a greyhound and give him a chance to show what he can do.

 

“I’m delighted for the lads who put so much into the game. Simon’s (Senyk) away at the World Cup and Brendan (Keogh) was at a party, but they both watched the race and I know love this dog, too, and it’s great Ian (Openshaw) could be here.”

 

Ian Openshaw, representing owners the KSS Syndicate, paid tribute to Liz and Rab McNair when interviewed at the presentation podium by RPGTV. “Liz and Rab have done a great job,” he said. “This dog is favourite for the Derby so there’s lots of pressure but they handle it really well and the dog himself was just fantastic tonight.”

 

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=392150&raceId=897686