Gardiner hoping Remy will be a smash in Kent Plate

CLAIREKEITH REMY put his rivals to the sword to take Hove’s Coral New Year Gala 515 final for Carl Gardiner on Saturday night.

Runner-up in the Kent Derby and then third in the Eclipse last year, he bounced out of the boxes to improve on his heat sectional by nine spots, and once going round in front there was only going to be one winner.

Thunder Black was well supported to turn around a short-head defeat at the hands of his rival, but a slow start left Seamus Cahill’s with little hope, and Clairekeith Remy clocked 30.46sec on going rated -40 for the extended four-bend trip.

Gardiner is aiming the Rod Lynn and Gill Woodroffeowned dog at the forthcoming Kent Plate at Central Park. He said yesterday: “I said to the owners that it was lovely to see him win a race. The last time was at Towcester in October. But he’s kind of got used to being against good dogs now, and is running out of his skin.

“To be fair he hasn’t shown that kind of early since this time last year, and he can be a bit quirky, but first time up round Monmore he beat Deelish Frankie three lengths. He’s not going to be gradeable now!

“It will probably be back to Central Park for the Kent Plate and the Derby is on the cards withhim–hewonfirsttimeup at Towcester as well.”

Gardiner sprang an even bigger surprise in the Coral New Year Gala 500 Maiden Final some 15 minutes beforehand when his Imahappylassie also flew out to run her rivals ragged.

An 8-1 shot, she was clear by the bend and kept going well to cross the line two lengths clear of Loco Sharkey in 30.04sec (-40) for the 500m trip.

“This time last year she also hit form, and I couldn’t believe the price she was although it was a classy field,” added the trainer. “I thought she was really unlucky to be pipped on the line in the heat.”

Cahill did enjoy better luck in the Coral New Year Gala Sprint Final as quickest heat winner Molly Maid continued her superb run of form, albeit she had to work hard for the victory after a slow break.

Despite giving the start, Molly Maid paced up superbly, bravely forced her way up the inside despite giving weight away to all her rivals, and then powered away. At the line she had more than three lengths in hand over kennelmate Precede in 16.71sec (-20) for the 285m trip.

Star performance in the one-off opens came from Candolim Monsoon as he stormed to a fastest-of-thenight 30.22sec for the 515m. Derek Knight’s dog, who was coming off a flying 575m success at Romford, pinged out to lead round and went further away with every stride, coming home more than seven lengths clear of Droopys Barry.