HOVE racing manager Rob Abrey has reflected on a sensational start to the Coral Gold Collar after the track record was first equalled by English Derby winner Droopys Plunge and then bettered by ante-post favourite Proper Heiress.

“I’m not sure we could have asked for a better way to announce Hove as the new home of the Coral Gold Collar,” said RM Abrey after Sunday’s heats of the famous competition, staged for the first time at the Sussex venue.

“It started with Droopys Plunge coming out running in heat one, after which you knew it was a race against the clock – and he didn’t disappoint! It was a great run but you then wondered what Proper Heiress might also do.

“He also came out running and broke the clock with a 28.57sec run. Incredibly that’s a length and a half inside the previous best – and now both Droopys Plunge and Proper Heiress will go against each other in the semis!”

Kick-starting the Category One annual in the best possible style, a slick exit from Patrick Janssens’ Derby champion set out his stall quickly in heat one and was never troubled thereafter as he raced away for a three and a quarter length win over Antigua Kestrel (Kevin Hutton) in 28.69sec.

The time matched Candolim Monsoon’s previous best for the trip. However, both would be rubbed out as Proper Heiress then dipped well inside the track record in heat four.

Also quickly into stride, Mark Wallis’s top tracker, last seen in the Irish Derby final at Shelbourne Park, sauntered to an incredible 12 and a half lengths win over Dazl Hermes (Ricky Holloway) in 28.57sec, 12 spots inside the 500m previous best.

Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby champion Romeo Tomcat also greatly impressed when completing a Janssens-trained double in heat six after Droopys Plunge’s earlier success.

Coming together with kennelmate Slick Sentinel from lid-rise, the on-a-roll British-bred made it nine wins in a row once straightening up and pacing up into the bend to settle the issue, racing away for a three and three-quarter lengths win over Rackethall Brute (Mark Wallis) in 28.66sec, a time also inside the previous best for the trip.

Texas Jack, the PGR Kent Derby runner-up, had earlier also franked the Central Park form when slipping clear of his field in heat five.

Gingers Prince (Patrick Browne) broke in front here but was crowded out along with several of his rivals at the turn, allowing the Richard Rees-trained Texas Jack free rein to dominate off the second bend before racing away for a three and half length win from Noellie (Paul Young) and Gingers Prince in 29.00sec (-10).

Maxine Locke matched the feat of the Janssens kennel with an impressive double, initiated by Kent Derby third Headford Dane in heat two.

Reeling in fast-starting Droopys Trade (Patrick Janssens) at the third bend, the Monmore Puppy Derby and Gold Cup winner went on to score by a length and a quarter from Kilmore Dancer (Mark Wallis) in 29.32sec (+10).

Ballymac Blanco than matched his kennelmate’s effort with a strong-running performance to win heat three, catching pace-setting Droopys String (Carl Gardiner) at the third bend before going on to score by length and a three-quarters from Fire Height Lila (Mark Wallis) in 29.59sec (-10).

Abrey added: “It was a great start to the Coral Gold Collar and we’re looking forward to the next two Sunday afternoons, especially finals day on Sunday, November 9, after which racing will cease for just over a week to allow us to make improvements to the drainage system and running surface here. 

“Racing will return on November 19, but we’ve got plenty to look forward to before then!”