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Double the final fun for Rees at Hove on Thursday night

Richard Rees landed both finals among the 11 opens at Hove on Thursday evening, while there was also an open-race double for Stuart Ray at Newcastle.

Chris Oliver

05 Sept 2025

Rees at the double

11 open races featured at Hove on Thursday evening and Richard Rees landed both finals on the card.

Zenith Sultan had to play second fiddle to Racenight Mikey in the heats of the Coral 500 Standard Trophy but he reversed that form when taking the final in fine style.

The May 2023 son of Ballymac Vic showed the benefit of that first start in well over two months when producing a much better break from trap one and pacing up into a healthy lead.

The 15/8 favourite kicked a long way clear down the far side and while Bowmers Wildcat stayed on well, he could only reduce the deficit to two lengths at the line as the winner stopped the clock at 29.31.

His kennelmate Zenith Imminent also made all in the Coral Maiden Trophy final with a four-length demolition job from Battle Stones.

The Rees inmate showed tremendous early speed to lead up and proceeded to pull further clear as he crossed the line in a very impressive 29.23.

There was also a double on the night for Belinda Green, whose Bonoandutoo sprang a 5/1 surprise when battling back to land the 695m maiden contest by three-quarters of a length from odds-on favourite Broadway Shay in 42.27.

The local handler also got on the scoresheet over the same trip with Barbie Bullet, a dominant four-and-a-half-length winner from Coffee Time Guys at 6/1 in 41.98.

The two heats of the Coral 285 Sprint Trophy went to Rosie Tungatt’s Savanna Ferguson, who touched off Beaming Isla (Kilcash Jack third) to score at 7/1 in 16.54, and Broadway Murty, who justified 10/11favouritism from Droopys Will and Uncle Ed in a much quicker16.24.

Maxine Locke landed the first open of the evening when her Lemon Anton (9/1) powered home to score by a length and three-quarters over 500m in 29.36, while Droopys Stat won the 500m puppies contest with the ease his odds of 1/5 favourite suggested he would as Heather Dimmock’s charge clocked 29.50.

Crossfield Zach (9/4) denied The Hill to land a sprint in 16.78 for Paul Young, while Kelvins Hat (10/11fav) prevailed by a head in a thrilling battle over 500m with Clairkeith Luna to score in 29.71.

The Derek Knight-trained Break Point ran out a comfortable winner of a 500m maiden contest at 4/5 favourite in 29.56.

Newcastle double for Ray

There were also six opens at Newcastle where local handler Stuart Ray recorded a double, starting with Blackhouse Lewi in heat two of the Arena Racing Company Puppy.

The 11/10 favourite was beaten to the punch by Blueys Elle but showed a good attitude to stay on and collar that rival by a length in the dying strides for a 28.66 (+10) success, with Five Ofa Kind back in third.

The first heat of that event went the way of Racenight Jane (1/2fav), who dominated from the front to score in 28.79 from Glengar Lisa and Droopys Anthea.

Ray completed his double when Blackhouse Kim produced the performance of the night in heat two of the Arena Racing Company Bitches.

The 13/8 shot blasted out of the boxes and stormed a long way clear as she came home 10 and three-quarters lengths ahead of Donishall Rose in 28.28 (+10), with Bogger Darling finishing third.

Heat one was won by Makeit Mead (7/4), who powered home to scored in 28.75 from Skeard Magic and Magical Ruby.

There were also two heats of the Arena Racing Company Standard at the Byker circuit, with Tom Heilbron’s Ballymac Sargie impressing when taking the first instalment in 28.34 (+20). Howay Tonali and Velvet Black filled the other two qualifying spots.

In the second heat, Stephen Caile’s Crooks Stevie (11/4) upset the well-fancied Slingshot Gazza when getting up to deny that rival off by a head in 28.78 (+20), with Swift Bullseye in third.