Locally trained Castlehyde King (Hondo Black-Goosabyrnes, Jan 14) was just two lengths outside the Poole 450m track record with a trap to line victory in the £4,000 decider.
The ultra consistent wide went to traps with 4.26 and 4.27 sectionals from the qualifiers bombed clear of his field with another 4.27 split but then faced a determined challenge from John Mullins’ My Mate Max. As in the semis, Max caught the leader around the last two bends but then regrouped to put in a strong late surge. Bill Black’s King (9-2) was being caught with every stride but held on win win by half a length in the fastest time of the year, 26.36.
There was some consolation for Mullins who landed the supporting 450 open with 7-4 chance Clubber Lang (Droopys Maldini-Snowdrop Girl, Nov 13) (26.82) and Droopys Southboy (Central City-Droopys Solange, Feb 14) (14.85), but missed out in the 840m marathon when beaten by local runner Droopys Heidi (Droopys Kewell-Droopys Diva, Dec 12) in 52.77. The 640m open went to the widely travelled Southern Henri (Makeshift-Send It Sally, Aug 12) (39.33).
