The finals of the Coral sponsored Olympic and Curtis/Ballyregan Memorial brought a thrilling end of the year on the South Coast.
King Memphis and Droopys Clue went unbeaten through the respective competitions unbeaten and connections might have justifiable claims that they are the top standard distance and stayer hounds in training in Britain.
Droopys Clue was first up
DROOPYS CLUE (t3) squeezes past the challenging Swiper (t2) as he leads around the first bend in the George Curtis/Ballyregan Bob Memorial Final Photo: © Steve Nash
DROOPYS CLUE on his way to victory in the George Curtis/Ballyregan Bob Memorial Final Photo: © Steve Nash
Bert Cusack (second left, legendary owner of Yankee Express and Lone Wolf fame) accompanied by Charlie Miller (right) presents the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial trophy to Droopys Clue’s co-owners Alex Hambi and Steve Hughes. Also pictured from left: Lena Birch (Hove Manager), Seamus Cahill, Hayley Maskew, Roger Brooke and Teresa Cahill. Photo: © Steve Nash
Then it was the turn of King Memphis
Racing Manager Rob Abrey (right) presents the Coral Olympic trophy to Simon Senyk after King Memphis’s victory Photo: © Steve Nash
KING MEMPHIS Olympic winner Photo: © Steve Nash
It was a good night for the KSS Syndicate who also saw Queen Shakira produce the fastest 500m run of the night in the Coral Christmas 500 final.
QUEEN SHAKIRA wins the Coral Christmas 500 Trophy Final Photo: © Steve Nash
A good one too for Ricky Holloway who landed the Merit Hurdle with Lenson Doolin and the £1,000 Christmas Maiden Final with Droopys Roster
LENSON DOOLIN Coral Merit Hurdle winner with Ricky Holloway and RM Rob Abrey Photo: © Steve Nash
DROOPYS ROSTER (t6) takes a wide path to win the Christmas Maiden Trophy Final for Ricky Holloway and owner Roger Cearns. Photo: © Steve Nash
Perhaps the most entertaining race of the night was the 970m marathon won by a Mystical Love. If you haven’t see the race, the result sheet gives an indication. Commiserations to connections of the disqualified Tommys Dove – who was rightly DQ’d – but simply looked as though he thought he was at the pick-up.
A MYSTICAL LOVE comes home over 19 lengths clear in the 955m marathon, where runner up Tommys Dove (t3) was disqualified after interfering with Glengar Bomber (t6, top left). Photo: © Steve Nash
More photos from the Steve Nash collection:
BRADYS BULLET winning 695 open on Olympic night Photo: © Steve Nash
GETUP ME LAD (t3) wins puppy open from Westway Zoro (t6) Photo: © Steve Nash
EIRE BUCKLE wins 500m open for Richard Rees Photo: © Steve Nash
CLAIRKEITH SANTI (t6) gets up to win 500m open from Ashwood Bocko (t5) and Molly Maid (t2) Photo: © Steve Nash
33-1 shot LAMORNA AMAZE wins 695 open Photo: © Steve Nash
OWER MYSTERY wins the Olympic Consolation Trophy Photo: © Steve Nash
June Harvey and her family on the podium after Ower Mystery’s Olympic Consolation win Photo: © Steve Nash
Seamus Cahill’s Yarmouth Derby winner WATCH THE LIMO (t4) completes the night’s action at Hove with victory from Droopys Request (t3) in the Standard Trophy Photo: © Steve Nash
Patrick said:
Nathan said:
Editor’s notes:
Rab McNair has featured heavily in this feature in the last seven days, but after four Cat One wins in a week for the KSS Syndicate, we make no apologies for that. The following sound track was recorded after Queen Joni’s win in the British Bred Derby Final at Sheffield.
The reason that we are including it though, is because it refers to the cameraderie that exists between so many of the trainers – something that is seldom acknowledged. Publishing is on the day before Christmas seems particularly appropriate.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Remembering 2023 – May
- Belinda Green reveals why Betsys Bullet (‘Stumpy’) was a ‘silly price’ to win the Brighton Belle.
- Old boy Droopys Perryman almost stymied Patrick Janssens’ of landing his 28th Category One final – the ARC Laurels.
- Irish trainer Peter Cronin decides not to enter runners in the forthcoming English Derby citing costs and unnecessary red tape.
- A welfare storm breaks when it is revealed that Havana Class has been sold to China. GBGB call an inquiry
- Towecester RM Andy Lisemore reckons that sectional times are around “17/18” spots quicker in the new curved front 500 metre traps than the set used the previous year.
- Part time plumber Mick Hurst takes the Bresbet Gymcrack with Stormy News.
- Bet365 unveil three new sponsored events for Oxford, the return of the Pall Mall, the Puppy Collar and the Challenge Cup.
- There are 14 empty traps when Towcester draw the runners for the 32 English Derby first round heats.
- Seven months before it is due to commence, PGR unveil their 2024 racing schedule. All their existing tracks, plus the four Entain venues, are included though there are a number of meeting changes.
- A Breeding Ground article assesses the likely level of improvement to be expected from a novice to experienced racer.
- ARC reveal plans for a £500K development of the Central Park circuit.
- Locally trained Distant Emma lands a fiercely contested Three Steps to Victory (sponsored by Time Greyhound Nutrition).
