Sean Parker reckons Puppy Derby finalist Lightfoot King could be a star in 2018.
The Candlelight King-Droopys Knox Dec ’15 dog made an impressive return to the track at Doncaster, having been off since finishing down the field in the last November’s £20,000 ECC Timber puppy decider at Towcester.
Sean Parker, assistant trainer to his mother Elaine, clearly thinks a lot of the dog: “He took to Towcester really well, but was unfortunate in the final, having led up after producing his best break. He came up against a very speedy Magical Bale at the turn where he was swallowed up. Since then he’s only had a couple of sprint trials so the Donny race looked an ideal opportunity to kick off 2018, and so it proved. I am really excited about this dog for this year.” In Monday night’s race, despite a distinctly modest break he powered his way to the front to string his rivals out from the halfway point, clocking 27.60 (-20) for the 450 trip.
Courtesy of Greyhoundsnow 2
It proved a pleasantly brief but productive night for the Parkers as their talented Droopys Live (who romped the £5k George Carrigill Memorial at home track Sheffield on Steel City Cup night) produced a game performance to land short odds in the only other open on the card, on a shorter than ideal 483 trip.
Dropzone, found to be lame after the Eclipse semis at Nottingham, is another kennel star on the way back. He clocked 16.95 (calc) in a 275m solo which Parker described as perfectly fine considering his layoff, and it being a first look at Doncaster for owner Pip Pearson’s talented brindle (pictured with his handler in the paddock before a race).
Sean Parker with Dropzone.
Nottingham 26th July 2017.
Photo: © Steve Nash
