Ricky Holloway sent out the winner of the Greyhound Trader Stakes Final as Rapido Benny led early and always held sway to strike gold for the Hove trainer and the May 2024 son of Dorotas Wildcat’s owner and kennel hand Havard Jakobsen.
Running with the blue jacket of trap 2, Benny was sent to traps a 9/2 shot with Venetian Mick just about gaining favoritism at 2/1 ahead of Alright Precious at 9/4.
After a fairly equal start which gave almost all greyhounds with a live chance, Benny showed a great determined attitude to use his trap draw to an advantage and took a hold of the race into the first bend.
In front all of the way from there, Rapido Benny crossed the line three-quarters of a length clear of the keeping-on Uncle Freddie (Richard Rees) in 28.97sec (-20) for the 500m trip.
This was a fantastic result for the £12,200 Oxford sales purchase who has already won the £5000 Hove Puppy Cup for trainer Ricky Holloway who is a great supporter of the sales.
Congratulations from all at Greyhound Trader!
Elsewhere on the card, Droopys Flare won the Greatbet Challenge Trophy Final over 712m and the May 2023 daughter of Droopys Sydney may once again have Shelbourne Park and the Winter Festival on her agenda later this year.
Trained and part-owned by Sean Parker along with John Stubbings, Droopys Flare hit the front down the back second time to race away for an impressive seven-length success over Chasing Larry (Heather Dimmock) in 42.72sec (-20), with the Sheffield trainer thrilled with his St Leger runner-up and admitting to some relief.
“You just want her to be able to run her race and there were a couple of moments when I was a bit worried, but she’s shown her class – and she’s got plenty of it,” he said. “We’ll have a crack at the Regency at Hove I’d say and think about Shelbourne after that, although I think she’d run over the longer trip there this time – if we decide to go.”
