DROOPYS FLARE will line up as a red-hot favourite for Saturday’s Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger Final at Dunstall Park, with Greyhound Trader responsible for selling four of the six finalists.
Alongside the running of the Arena Racing Company Birmingham Cup Final, the St Leger offers a first prize of £20,000, with Sean Parker’s runner aiming to go one better than last year’s event when she finished runner-up to Mongys Wild. That renewal was temporarily hosted by Nottingham while the finishing touches were being made to the new Dunstall Park track.
Quickest in the heats, Droopys Flare was again fastest in the semi-finals as the Regency winner produced another powerful performance, coming through strongly after being held up early in the second semi-final.
Storming through the field and hitting the front around the final bends of the 715m trip, the May 2023 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dancer raced clear for a four-length success over Malcolm Bosh (Angie Kibble) and Venetian Mick (Kevin Hutton), who had led early on, stopping the clock in 43.00sec (-20).
The first semi-final went the way of Zenith Pasha as Jimmy Fenwick’s Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic third secured his second Category One success with another strong-running display.
He reeled in early leader Lets Go Girl (Kevin Hutton) before crossing the line a length and a half clear of Radical Story (Craig Morris) in 43.29sec (-20).
The result means Greyhound Trader has a remarkable four of the six finalists heading into Saturday night’s St Leger Final — a major endorsement of the quality available through both its track sales and online auctions.
Droopys Flare is well known as the current sales flag bearer, having been sold at the 2024 Doncaster sales for £13,250. Recent Select Stayers winner Radical Story has also been in excellent form and has proven a hugely successful purchase for trainer Craig Morris, having been secured for £8,250 in a Greyhound Trader online auction in 2025.
Venetian Mick was another 2025 online auction graduate, selling for £11,000 to Graham Freeman before joining Kevin Hutton’s kennel. Hutton also handles the fourth Greyhound Trader graduate in Saturday’s final, Lets Go Girl, who topped the 2025 Hove sales at £8,100 when formerly named Mustang Tory.
The remarkable Greyhound Trader representation means that two-thirds of the St Leger Final field have passed through the sales operation, with four different connections now bidding for one of the sport’s most prestigious staying prizes.
The draw for Saturday’s final sees Zenith Pasha in the inside box with Droopys Flare next door, and Dan Bradshaw, Dunstall’s deputy racing manager, believes the make-up of the race could produce a more competitive contest than the betting for the six-bend showpiece suggests.
“First off, with two railers, three middles and a wide, it looks a good spread and hopefully makes for a great first St Leger final here,” said Bradshaw.
“There are always ifs and buts aplenty in any greyhound race, but you sense Zenith Pasha can come away better than he did in the semis and should get first run on Droopys Flare. And we know the outside two – Venetian Mick and Lets Go Girl – will both look to dominate outside.
“Radical Story and Malcolm Bosh are stronger types as, of course, is Droopys Flare. She’s so tough, has got great trackcraft which she showed again on Saturday when it did look tricky for her until she got in the clear before halfway, and remember hasn’t been beaten here in four races. Plus she’s the track record holder!
“So all of that tells us she’s the one to beat.”
Trap draw for Saturday’s Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger Final
1 Zenith Pasha
2 Droopys Flare
3 Radical Story (m)
4 Malcolm Bosh (m)
5 Venetian Mick (m)
6 Lets Go Girl (w)
