CANDOLIM MONSOON rained on favourite Havana Bale Out’s parade with a brilliant fastest-of-the-night success in the second semi-final of the Coral Sussex Cup at Hove on Saturday.

The Derek Knight-trained star was quickly into stride and never looked in danger once beating Havana Bale Out to the punch early doors before pulling clear, the September 2020 son of Magical Bale and Maireads Shauna winning by five and a half lengths from another local Stellas Fruity (Richard Rees) in a standard-setting 29.98sec (-20).

Victory for Candolim Monsoon secured local trainer Knight another Sussex Cup finalist at his home venue. He last won the Coral Sussex Cup in 2002 with Lozzas Dream and before then with Smoking Bullet (2000) and Astrosyn Eulogy (1998).

Wasted Monday also struck for the home side when scoring for last year’s winning kennel in the first semi-final.

Belinda Green’s 37-kilo June 2021 son of Good News and Vale Recruit was always handy after a slick start and hit the front off the second bend to score by one and three-quarter lengths from Brighton Belle finalist No Rush (Carol Weatherall) in 30.24sec (-30).

The victory delighted the winning trainer, who said of the two-year-old, a recent intake: “He’s been a great addition to the kennel along with his owners who are new to the sport – and what a dog to have as your first for James (Tubman) and Vince (McMorrow).

“Kenny, as we call him, came over lightly raced from Kieron O’Dwyer and in great condition. He hit the ground running, winning a maiden competition at Hove, but we always had the intention of aiming him at the Sussex Cup as his first main target.

“He’s a lovely big dog with loads of pace – he’s just not quite sure what to do with it all yet! Once it all falls into place he’ll be a great competition dog.”

Frompostopillar regained the winning thread in the third semi-final as Liz McNair’s popular sort rode a bump off the first bend before catching leader Four From Two (Seamus Cahill) heading into the third bend.

Thereafter, the November 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Rafa Babys Baby stamped his authority as the Olympic champion came home three lengths clear of market rival Droopys Google (Nathan Hunt) in 30.25sec (-20).

Form and trap draw for Saturday’s finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Brighton-Hove/form-guides/Sat-29th-July-Form-Adv.pdf