The BGBF British Breeders Stakes got underway at Nottingham’s Colwick Park stadium on Monday evening. A night which had promised to be a huge night of quality racing showcasing some of the finest stars of the British Bred scene was soured however in the very first heat as Liz and Rab McNair’s Queen JessieJ , ante post favourite and one of the finest bitches we have seen in the UK for many years suffered what looks to be a career ending hock injury when clear at the final bend. Sean Parker’s Barnside Millie came through to take the race in 3006 with John Sharp’s Sharpys Rocket and local trainer Alec Stone’s Tele Lad taking the second and third qualifying places for next week’s semi-finals respectively. I’ve no doubt at all though that each set of connections would gladly give up those slots to see JessieJ not suffer the injury she did. Thoughts of the whole sport will be with Liz , Rab and the KSS team today and once fully recovered and back to 100% health and fitness I’m sure JessieJ will go on to be a super brood.

Penniment Milo looked set to follow up last weeks trial stake victory when going clear in heat two for local handler Barry Denby however amazingly he was forced out of the qualifying positions entirely in the latter stages. It was left to another greyhound who won a trial stakes last week to come through and take the spoils as Angie Kibble’s Zaha once again caught the eye with an intelligent back running performance in 2991. Emotional also running for Angie Kibble was once again tapped for toe in the first half of the race before coming through strongly in the latter stages. She’ll be a difficult bitch to keep out of the frame and should once again improve for the further look round whilst Kevin Hutton’s Liberty Belle claimed the third qualifying spot. A little awkward leaving the traps she kept a tight rails position throughout eventually running on to be a never nearer 1 3/4 length third.

Kevin Ferguson’s Acomb Winston took heat three in a fastest of the night 2966. It was some performance from the son of Hiya Butt. Runner up in both the Produce Stakes Final and the Westmead Legacy in memory of Natalie Savva trophy in 2020 he’s sure to take some beating in this competition. Devastating early pace and no short runner either he’s a wonderful greyhound and ideally suited to the testing galloping nature of Nottingham. Not that he needed any help but his chance improved massively the moment his rival next door Keefill Finn moved drastically towards the rail. Winston had all the room in the world to open up and he was away and gone from a very early stage. Kevin Hutton’s Lights Out is never far away and ran on for second whilst King Axle battled well to take the third qualifying spot for the McNair team. He had his ground immediately taken out of the traps by the aforementioned Keefill Finn and was crowded at various stages thereafter. Out of position for much of the race he never gave in and run stuck to his task admirably.

Tom Heilbron’s Denmark took heat four and what a race and what a battling performance this was. Heilbron’s dog popped out in front and led to the second bend at which point he was headed by Queen Dolly for the McNair team. Denmark was done for a little bit of middle over this trip by Dolly but once they came into the home straight he really found top gear and eventually beat off his rival by 1 1/4 in 2978. Sharpys Pluto stuck on really well to qualify in third for Sheffield handler John Sharp. He is much better when drawn tight against the fence however as seen here where he battled for that position throughout. Connections will have been glad to see him drawn in red for next week’s semi-final.

Kevin Hutton’s Boca Junior had a tough looking draw to overcome in heat five but once again showed his class and never say die attitude to come through and win by a head from the McNair’s King Louis in 2999. Junior finished third in both the Produce Stakes and the British Bred Derby Finals in 2020 as well as reaching the final of the Westmead Legacy in memory of Natalie Savva Trophy. It would be no surprise if he were to win a decent event on the British Bred scene this year. Elderberry Sky for Patricia Cowdrill looked a few lengths short of peak fitness in both his trial last week and in this race. He qualified in third position though and he can only improve for each run at this stage and is sure to be a leading player in all of the main British Bred events this year.

Acomb Jenny gave Kevin Ferguson a double on the night as the sister to his earlier winner Winston run away with heat six. After popping out nicely she was aided by Plaza Matty making his inevitable move towards the rail from trap 3 but there was no fluke about this victory as she crossed the line 4 1/4 lengths clear of Queen Franklin in 2986. Ferguson will be in confident mood heading into next week’s semi-finals and rightfully so. He’s produced a wonderful litter who look set to give him plenty of enjoyment and success throughout the year. John Sharp might not have had a winner on the night but he’ll have left the track in buoyant mood as his third runner on the night was also his third qualifier for the semi-finals with Sharpys Jimmy taking third place.