ANTIGUA SUGAR edged out Drive On Lad for a thrilling GBGB Category success in Sunday’s Stadium Bookmakers Juvenile Classic Final at Towcester.

Trained by Mark Wallis for Nic and Amanda Jeal, the August 2020 daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Dolce Vita finished best to deny Richard Rees’s dog and long-time leader Ivanexile (Matt Dartnall) for a short-head success in 29.56sec (normal)

Ivanexile, looking to maintain an unbeaten run in the 500m competition, had set the tempo early on with a 4.20sec split but despite a game effort failed to hold the stronger pair of Drive On Lad, who briefly led on the run-in, before Antigua Sugar swooped.

Delighted to landed the £10,000-to-the-winner event, winning owner Nic Jeal paid tribute to both Mark Wallis and his team and to the Matthews family of Newry, from where Antigua Sugar, previously known as Onyourmarks in Ireland, came from.

Jeal said: “Damian Matthews was kind enough to alert us to Sugar and recommended we buy her, which we did in the sale at Towcester.

“She impressed in her trials but it quickly became apparent her future was over the longer trip – even though she won on Derby final night and has now won this. She now heads off to the (Ladbrokes) Summer Stayers Classic at Monmore on Saturday.

“I always thought the draw looked kind to us in Sunday’s final with several rivals not getting the boxes they wanted, but it was certainly heart-in-your-mouth time as she swooped to finally pass the two-dog on the line – he ran a fantastic race it should be said.

“So it’s Monmore next, although expectations aren’t high as she’s inexperienced and it looks a tough competition.

“We’ve also have Bombardier in that competition and, at the moment, I’d rate him above Sugar but hopefully she keeps improving and will be very useful over six bends.”

James Corden of Greyhound Trader, whose pre-Derby sale is where the Juvenile Classic champion came through, said: “Congratulations to the Jeals and to Mark Wallis and all at Imperial Kennels. It was a great race on Sunday and a great win.

“Sugar’s victory is our first Category One success through the Greyhound Trader sales and we’re absolutely delighted.

“As Nic has said, she came from Damian Matthews who has been such a great supporter of ours, and Sugar has been a great purchase for her new connections. She won our event on Derby final night and has just continued to improve. Good luck to them all at Monmore now.”

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=387694&raceId=862125