QUEEN JONI set up a mouthwatering clash with Crafty Shivoo in Saturday’s Coral Brighton Belle Final after posting the fastest time in the weekend’s semi-finals over 515m at Hove.

Liz McNair’s British-bred star, already winner of the Produce Stakes, British Bred Derby and Kent Plate, now eyes a fourth Category One title in the £10,000 bitches-only showpiece after coming through a drawing of lots for a place in the semis after a no-race in the heats and then a first-two-to-qualify semi-final against, among others, kennelmates Queen Georgia and Havana Bale Out.

However, sent off a 2-7 chance to land the spoils, confidence from her supporters was high after a fast start saw her get first run on youngster Droopys Eunice (Maxine Locke) and lead her field. Thereafter the high-class McNair runner never looked likely to relinquish with the December 2021 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Queen Jessiej coming home two and three-quarter lengths in front of the Romford runner in 29.98sec (normal).

Principally standing in the way of Brighton Belle success for Queen Joni is Crafty Shivoo after Mark Wallis’s star overcame crowding early to win the second semi-final, leading home another McNair runner in the process.

Caught up in the midfield as Bubbly Bombay (Paul Young) headed to the rails, 1-5 chance Crafty Shivoo just made the bend in front, albeit showing great speed to do so, before running away for a three-and-a-half lengths success over Queen Dusty (Liz McNair) in 30.06sec (normal), the pair qualifying for the Category One decider and denying third-placed Betsys Bullet (Belinda Green) a chance to defend her title.

A delighted but relieved trainer Wallis said of the 2023 Irish Oaks and Empress Stakes winner, an October 2021 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Sanjose: “It was definitely heart in mouth time as the traps opened – we knew there might not be a lot of space, but she’s done so, so well to recover quickly and pace up into the bend and get to the front.

“We know what gears Shivoo has, she’s an exceptional bitch and since she’s come back from season has really excelled. We gave her those two races at Towcester and she’s posted two good times and hopefully that will serve her well when we go back there, because the Derby is definitely the plan with her.

“We’ve got trap one in the (Coral) Brighton Belle and couldn’t have really asked for more. It looks a good make-up, although she has to still do everything right because it’s a really good final. Obviously we knew Rab and Liz (McNair) had a strong hand coming into it, but to see Shivoo and Queen Join finally up against each other should be something.”

Semi-final night had opened with success for the Kevin Hutton-trained home-bred Southfield Daisy in the first semi as the April 2022 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Forest Natalee came through an early battle with Allowdale Cazoo (Nathan Hunt) before pulling clear of that rival, the Peter Bussey Memorial Trophy champion, to win by two and a quarter lengths in 30.11sec (normal).

It means Southfield Daisy will line up as one of three British-bred runners in the Coral Brighton Belle Final along with the McNair pair of Queen Joni and Queen Dusty.

Trap draw for Saturday’s final: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Brighton-Hove/form-guides/Sat-27th-April-Form-Adv.pdf