DROOPYS PREFECT improved a record-breaking year for Romford trainer Maxine Locke still further by winning the BetGoodwin Series Maiden Cup Final at Oxford.

The Category Two event forms part of a new sponsorship programme between the bookmaker and the Cowley venue and produced a cracking three-round competition which ultimately saw the September 22 son of King Sheeran and Droopys Meteor strike gold.

The winner, a litter brother of Coral Olympic finalist Droopys Extragud, lined up as one of two finalists in the BetGoodwin Series Maiden Cup for Locke, both owned by Jack Russell, Rob Howe and the JR Racing Syndicate, the other being 7-4 favourite Ballymac Axel.

However, it was Droopys Prefect who came out on top, pacing up well and grabbing fast-starting Black Gent (Chris Hamblin) to hit the front off the second bend.

With Ballymac Axel crowded out of contention, Droopys Prefect was in the clear and streaked ahead for an impressive six-length victory over Black Gent in 26.62sec (-20) for the 450m trip, taking down the £3,000 prize in the process.

Longacres Honey (Pat Doocey) crossed the line in third ahead of Ballymac Axel.

Winning trainer Locke, who recently passed 100 open-race winners in a year for the first time, said: “It was great to win another competition and, while Ballymac Axel was unlucky – things just didn’t go for him on the night – we’re all delighted with Prefect because he probably deserved some better luck.”

“We’ve had to be patient with him,” explained Locke. He had one minor thing after another and that held him back but you can see when he’s in the clear he’s a fast dog.

“He’s well-bred from a good, winning litter, and now we’ve been able to get some runs into him hopefully we’ll see even more – not that we could’ve asked for much more on Saturday! That was a terrific run and he’s a lovely dog.

“We’ll run him in a 500m race at Hove on Saturday. We’ve got Droopys Pivotel in the (Coral) Olympic final so that makes sense.

“As ever, many thanks to the girls at the kennels – Jo, Megan, Cherry, Finn and Parise. The weekend was a good one and hopefully we’ve got another one ahead because we’ve also got runners in the (bet365) Puppy Oaks at Towcester. We’ve got three there – unfortunately they’re in the same semi!”