UK CHALLENGER FLARE TRIALS WELL AFTER NIGHTMARE

Ian Fortune

Sean Parker and his star performer Droopys Flare endured a nightmare journey across the Irish Sea on Saturday but still managed to achieve their objective.

Parker was actually keen on running his star stayer, who is a litter sister to Shelbourne 525yd record holder Droopys Kathleen, on Derby final night only to change his mind after she ran a huge race to finish second in the St Leger just five days earlier.

From then, the plan was always to come to Dublin for the Winter Racing Festival and she seems likely to be aimed at the Championship 750. She had to trial after racing on Saturday night despite setting off early that morning.

After a five-hour delay and a long wait for the ferry to actually dock in Dublin, they missed their trial engagement before racing. Thankfully, with the permission of the Shelbourne Park racing office they decided to stick around and give her a spin after racing.

She looked right at home, taking the paint off the rails as she ran right to the line to clock 41.63. Given the circumstances, it was a very encouraging run.

The daughter of Droopys Sydney is very talented and giving her a look around Shelbourne will afford her the best opportunity to show her best on Saturday night. Her sporting connections are more than welcome and we hope she does them proud.