Droopys Clue with Consecutive St Leger Wins
Droopys Clue etched his name into greyhound racing lore by becoming the first dog to secure back-to-back victories in the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger at Perry Barr on Saturday. This remarkable feat solidifies his status as the UK's top greyhound racer, rewriting records that have stood since the event's inception at Wembley in 1928.
Already crowned Greyhound of the Year and a frontrunner to retain the title after clinching the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic at Monmore last month, Droopys Clue faced fierce competition in the £20,000 showcase at the Birmingham Cup. Despite the pressure from five determined rivals, he demonstrated why he's a champion.
The race began with Seamus Cahill's star pupil breaking swiftly, taking an early lead that hinted at dominance. However, at the halfway mark, Clona Curly—trained by Diane Henry—challenged and briefly overtook him. Undeterred, Droopys Clue regained momentum on the second backstretch, reclaiming the front position. As the finish line approached, the field closed in off the final bend, attempting to catch the 2-5 favourite. Yet, Droopys Clue held firm, crossing the line just under a length ahead of Clona Curly in 42.97 seconds over the 710m distance.
The night's excitement didn't end there. The Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger was one of two major finals at Perry Barr, the other being the M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup in Memory of Michael Lambe Senior. Both events had been postponed from the previous week due to heavy rain in the Midlands.
In the 480m Birmingham Cup, Rioja Bungle delivered a thrilling come-from-behind victory. Local hero Darley Diglake, handled by Robert Hall, took an early lead and seemed set to capitalise as rivals, including the 9-4 favourite Aayamza Sydney trained by John Mullins, encountered crowding issues. However, Kevin Hutton's Rioja Bungle navigated a clear path around the first two bends after a slower start. Displaying remarkable speed and strategy, he surged from last place to overtake the leader on the home straight, securing a one-length win for owner Paul Woodburn in 28.22 seconds. The race concluded with a British-bred one-two finish, awarding £12,500 to the triumphant team.