FLARE EYEING POTENTIAL FESTIVAL DEFENCE

Ian Fortune

The Sean Parker trained Droopy Flare made the journey across the Irish Sea last year to emerge a tremendous winner of the Winter Racing Festival Championship 750 and after trialling well in recent weeks, seems a possible runner in this year’s contest.

The brilliant daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dancer captured the St Leger and Regency in recent months, but has been on the sidelines after picking up a minor injury. That forced connections to sidestep the George Curtis &Ballyregan Bob Memorial at Hove.

But she made a quick recovery from her problem and trialled well at Nottingham on Monday night over the 500m trip, posting 29.43 (+.40). Speaking to the Racing Post, Sean Parker confirmed that he is certainly eyeing up a crack at the Shelbourne contest. Said Parker, “The plan now is to go back to Nottingham next week and give her a 680m trial. The position of the traps, the run to the bend and the times over the trip compare really well against Shelbourne’s 750-yard course so that will give us an idea of where she’s at.

“I trialled her over the 680m last year before taking her to Dublin for the Winter Festival and she went well at Nottingham then went over and won the 750 Championship race. That gives me a ten- or 11-day window after the Nottingham trial to make the decision.

“If all goes well then we will go back to try and win it again. The fact she’s been round makes me more comfortable about not taking her for a trial this year, so we’ll see what Monday brings and take it from there.”

Indeed, the presence of Droopys Flare would be a real boost to the Festival. Let’s hope she makes the journey to Dublin and gets the opportunity to defend her title.