Patrick Janssens' rising star, Droopys Plunge, delivered a standout performance in the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse heats at Nottingham on Monday. The young November 2022 son of Droopys Sydney made it a double victory for Janssens in breathtaking fashion.
Breaking swiftly from a midfield position, Droopys Plunge immediately applied pressure to his rivals in heat six. Touted as a potential staying sensation, he maintained his lead throughout, finishing four lengths ahead of kennelmate Barntick Bear, with defending champion Newinn Syd from Mark Wallis's camp in third. Droopys Plunge clocked a remarkable 29.16 seconds over the 500m distance, securing a one-two finish for Janssens, who earlier triumphed with Romeo Steel in heat two.
Romeo Steel overcame a challenging wide draw to seize the lead with blistering early pace, posting the night’s fastest sectional at 4.96 seconds. He held off Empress Stakes champion Avongate Venus, clinching victory by just over a length in 29.55 seconds for one lap at Colwick Park.
Janssens now boasts six semi-finalists for next Monday's races, including Romeo Command and Slick Sentinel, who both featured in a thrilling heat four. Slick Sentinel initially led, but Mark Wallis’s Proper Heiress powered through in the final strides, narrowly defeating Romeo Command by a neck in 29.68 seconds.
In heat three, Jimmy Fenwick’s Wicky Ned, a two-time Category One winner, showcased his class with a commanding early lead, securing a four-and-a-quarter length win over Stonepark Wes in 29.35 seconds.
The evening opened with Kevin Hutton’s Antigua Kestrel snatching victory at the line from longtime leader Salacres Tipster in heat one, recording a time of 29.55 seconds. Peter Holland’s Velvet Madrid completed a Nottingham one-two in heat five, leading from start to finish ahead of Sambar Kian in 29.90 seconds.
Eclipse Semi-Final Trap Draw - Nottingham, 500m
- First Semi-Final: 1 Velvet Madrid, 2 Proper Heiress, 3 Droopys Plunge, 4 Romeo Steel, 5 Newinn Syd, 6 Slick Sentinel (m).
- Second Semi-Final: 1 Wicky Ned, 2 Barntick Bear, 3 Stonepark Wes, 4 Salacres Tipster, 5 Antigua Kestrel, 6 Avongate Venus (m).
- Third Semi-Final: 1 Sambar Kian, 2 Clodcar Rosie, 3 Keefill Goose, 4 Romeo Command, 5 Tricky Wiggles (m), 6 Droopys Doughnut (w).
As the semi-finals approach, all eyes will be on the talented field competing for the coveted Eclipse title.