The semi-finals of the Coral Olympic at Hove on Saturday were electrifying, with Proper Heiress proving her dominance by claiming victory in spectacular style. Mark Wallis’s rising star delivered a flawless performance, securing her place in next week’s £10,000 final—a race that promises to be nothing short of extraordinary.
With heavyweights like Barntick Bear and Aayamza Sydney also advancing to the 515m Category One final, the stage is set for an unforgettable showdown. Adding to the excitement, the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial Final and other top-tier races will ensure a thrilling evening on the South Coast.
Proper Heiress set the standard in the second semi-final, completing the race in an impressive 29.71 seconds on a stormy evening, holding off Heather Dimmock’s Droopys Extragud. Earlier, Barntick Bear, trained by Patrick Janssens, wowed the crowd with a last-to-first comeback, taking the first semi-final in 30.22 seconds and defeating Maxine Locke’s Droopys Pivotel.
In the third semi-final, local favourite Missile One, guided by Seamus Cahill, dominated from start to finish, clocking a swift 29.99 seconds. Aayamza Sydney, the Gold Collar champion, surged into second place, now targeting a quick double victory in Saturday’s final.
Janssens’s success extended to the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial Final as his Breton Molly led the pack in the 740m semi-finals. A strong start secured her win in 44.61 seconds, edging out Kevin Hutton’s Hopiehopiehopie. Ante-post favourite Garfiney Blaze also impressed, powering through to victory in 44.77 seconds, while Nathan Hunt’s Droopys Flotilla held off Tuono Bella in 45.10 seconds.
As a prelude to next week’s stellar card, Category One champions Druids Say Go and Churchfield Syd delivered sharp trial runs, signalling their readiness for action.
Trap Draws for the Finals:
- Coral Olympic: 1 Aayamza Sydney, 2 Proper Heiress, 3 Missile One, 4 Droopys Pivotel, 5 Barntick Bear, 6 Droopys Extragud.
- George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial: 1 Breton Molly, 2 Hopiehopiehopie, 3 Garfiney Blaze, 4 Coffee Time Guys, 5 Droopys Flotilla, 6 Tuono Bella.
Racing fans, mark your calendars—Hove is the place to be for breathtaking action and unforgettable finishes!