Five of Thursday’s Sussex Cup qualifiers were timed within 13 spots of each other, as Oscar Whisky (Droopys Oscar-Droopys Danneel, May 14) dominated the first round of the Coral Sussex Cup at Hove.
Charlie Lister’s 4-7f was in second spot at the winning line first time (4.38) but relished every one of the 515 metres to come home two and a half clear of early leader Astra Prince in 29.80 (-10) for the 515m. Lenson Tramore was third (2 1/2l)
Hazel Kemp’s Master Kelly (Forest Master-Light Foot Molly, Aug 14) had from a dozen lengths adrift to win on his previous visit to the track. Against far tougher opposition, the striped jacketed 5-1 chance showed another side to his game. He trapped well (4.28 sect) and rode a first bend bump before escaping his field. He crossed the winning line in 30.10 with 7-4 favourite Barricane Tiger (T4) and Golden Crest winner Castlehyde King (T5) dead heating for second, some seven lengths in arrears.
Next quickest on the clock was the Wallis trained Calco Flyer (Blonde Snapper-Blonde Fern, Sep 12). The blue jacketed 5-1 chance fared the best of the railers as the orange jacketed Bockos Alfie struggled to get to the rails. Patrick Janssens’ 7-4 favourite eventually ran out of steam and it was left to Ballymac Ramsey (T3) and Sparta Marvel (T6) to follow him home. Winner’s time 30.13, distances a length and a quarter and a length.
The night’s fastest sectional (4.21) was recorded by Swift Whirlwind in the sixth heat, but it was Johns Present (Barefoot Bolt-Exiles Pride, Oct 13) , who recorded the second fastest (4.22) who prevailed. Paul Young’s 7-2 chance rocketed clear from the blue box and then held off Farneys Cookie (T1 6-1) and Ascot Woodie (T4, 5-1) by a length and a bit and three quarters. The winner was timed at 30.14
The night’s biggest turn-up came in the second heat which featured 5-4f Ballymac Mossjoe (T3). Two boxes away in five was the friendless Lemon Jamesy (Shaneboy Lee-Lemon Divine, Aug 13). Ray Butler’s 16-1 shot (4.28 sect) was marginally led by neighbour Oakfield Caesar (4.25) but eased the Cahill runner out at the bend and seized the initiative. The pair were pursued by Dorotas Tiger (T1) from the second bend and he eventually closed to within three quarters of a length of the 30.21 winner.
The most competitive result on the night would see two of Maxine Locke’s runners separated by a short head. The initiative was taken up by the red jacketed Alfjack who snuck through on the rails to lead off the first bend. His kennelmate Narabane Flyer (Melodys Royal-Forge Road, Sep 13) was having to make his own luck in stripes. He rode a first bend bump before leading a cavalry charge on the faltering leader. Flyer (7-4f) nabbed the lead in the final stride with Omega Kin (T2) half a length back in third. The third Locke runner Sparta James (T3 2-1) finished last.
| First Semi | Second Semi | Third Semi |
| 1) Dorotas Tiger | 1) Calco Flyer | 1) Omega Kin |
| 2) Lenson Tramore | 2) Alf Jack | 2) Oscar Whisky |
| 3) Barricane Tiger | 3) Farneys Cookie | 3) Ballymac Ramsey |
| 4) Johns Present | 4) Narabane Flyer (W) | 4) Adcot Woodie (M) |
| 5) Sparta Marvel (W) | 5) Oakfield Caesar (W) | 5) Lemon Jamesy (W) |
| 6) Astra Prince (W) | 6) Master Kelly (W) | 6) Castlehyde King (W) |
