DROOPYS CLUE completed a hat-trick of track records at Central Park on Sunday setting new figures again for the 491m trip with another brilliant performance in the semi-finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby.

Seamus Cahill’s dog, winner of the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger at Perry Barr last month, had dropped down in distance to win his heat last week in a new best-ever of 28.91sec and now bettered that mark with another top-class run, posting 28.83sec (normal) in winning the third semi-final at the Kent venue.

Led from the boxes by in-form King Ezra (Liz McNair), Droopys Clue railed into position off the second bend and went on down the far side for a two and a quarter lengths success from King Ezra, with the clock showing the son of August 2021 son of Out Of Range ASB and Droopys Natalia had taken a length off his own track record.

Churchfield Syd, in a rich vein of form for Richard Rees, also followed up his impressive first-round success with another flawless effort in the first semi-final.

The Ladbrokes Gold Cup runner-up and Birmingham Cup finalist, a June 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Millbank Jade, raced to a fastest-of-the-session 3.15sec split before racing on for a four and a quarter lengths win over Asbo Lenny (Paul Donovan) in 29.11sec (normal), the pair securing places in Sunday’s GBGB Category One final.

Havana Lover ensured Liz McNair will be doubly handed in Sunday’s decider when winning the second semi, the 2022 St Leger winner taking a flyer from the outside box and always in command thereafter as a six-bend champion.

Keeping up a strong gallop, the August 2020 daughter of Laughil Blake and Love Honey, who will line-up as the sole bitch and most experienced in the £20,000-to-the-winner decider, crossed the line a length and a half clear of Star Sports Derby runner-up Romeo Command (Patrick Janssens) in 29.17sec (normal).

Rob Killingbeck, Central Park racing manager, has been delighted with the quality of this year’s Kent Derby and is anticipating a closely fought decider on Sunday.

“Droopys Clue has been doing some amazing clocks and I thought was brilliant once again in the semis, although to be fair to King Ezra he didn’t let him get too far away, and I thought it was the same with Havana Lover in her semi-final.

“She’s a St Leger winner and led up so you’d expect her to be away, but Romeo Command showed what a classy dog he is by also keeping the distance very reasonable.

“Churchfield Syd was just paw-perfect again in his semi and you suspect he’ll be the one they’re got to catch come the final if he traps like he has been. Droopys Clue will surely be favourite to win, but trap four for him does make things interesting and I think as the only wide runner Havana Lover definitely comes into the reckoning.

“Well done to our Liz and Rab McNair for getting two through to the final with Lover and Ezra and special mention, too, for Paul Donovan with Asbo Lenny. He came into the Kent Derby after four wins not the spin here – two A1s included – so is also representing this track really well. To be fair, it’s a very, very good final.”

Trap draw for Sunday’s Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby Final: https://www.centralpark-greyhounds.co.uk/racing/