Magnificent Maldini scores in Hove Cup Final
Westmead Maldini: Impressive winner of the Coral Sussex Cup
PICTURE: STEVE NASHWESTMEAD MALDINI (9-2) was a game and impressive winner of the £10,000 Coral Sussex Cup final at Hove on Tuesday night.
Nick Savva's dog, who finished third when favourite in last year's final, turned second behind trail-blazer Loughteen Blanco and the writing was on the wall from a long way out.
Challenging on the final two bends, he quickened up entering the home straight to score by one length in 29.65sec and record a fourth win in the event for his trainer Nick Savva
There were three supporting finals on the programme, each worth £2,500 to the winner, kicking off with the Puppy decider at 8.15 where punters were in for a major surprise.
Charlie Lister's Farloe Tango was sent off the 1-4 jolly but badly missed his break and finished a never-nearer third.
The race was won by Paul Young's Teejay's Bluehawk (7-1) who himself came from an unpromising position to surge through the field and record 29.88sec.
The Sprinter's shoot out at 8.35 saw Dynamo Joe (7-4F), arguably the top two-bender in the country right now, run out a comfortable winner.
Carol Weatherall's black broke well and drove the first bend best to surge clear to score in a time of 16.32sec.
The Ladies final at 9.10 went to Charlie Lister's Silverview Perky. The 1-4 favourite didn't break too well but paced up to take a stranglehold on the first two corners and put the race to bed by halfway.
Dixies Craft, who broke fast and was always second, ran well to keep the deficit down to just over two lengths behind a fast 29.57sec winner.
Eight terrific televised races had opened with a 515m Standard at 7.40 won by Mark Wallis's Bridge Honcho (7-2) who showed terrific early pace for an easy all-the-way success in a speedy 29.61sec.
A 740-metre Stayers' was next up at 8.00 and the well-supported Bubbly Swallow (5-4F) did the business. Having got the better of Boherna Bridge at the third bend, Nick Savva's dog kicked on for a comfortable three length success in 44.47sec.
Marathon performers took to the stage at 8.50 and the 930-metre slog went to Bob Boosey's Buglys Billie (5-2) who came from well off the pace to lead at the final bend and draw clear to beat Aero Gaga by a shade over six lengths in 57.50sec.
A 695-metre stayers' preceded the Cup final and Mark Wallis's Blonde Reagan (6-1) shot from the boxes to get first run on Express Trend, the 6-4 jolly, and make all and score by 3 1/2L in a time of 41.30sec.
