The Final of the BGBF British bred Derby, held at Sheffield on 20 December, saw a great second-year-running win from the Firmager bred, Janssens trained, Fabulous Azurra!

Patrick Janssens first wished Signet Denver – one of Kevin Hutton’s runners, who had broken down in the race – a speedy recovery, then said: “Lucy – as she is known at home – is an absolute star. To go through two British Bred Derbys unbeaten is very special indeed and well done once again to David and Nicola Firmager who do a great job in breeding and rearing these greyhounds. We’re delighted.”

BGBF chair Liz Mort added: “It was a fabulous victory from a Fabulous bitch – she’s just brilliant. She didn’t make her best start, but got in front before the first bend, then just took control and won comfortably in the end. Enormous congratulations to David and Nicola Firmager and to Patrick. He’s slightly superstitious about going to finals with his dogs if he didn’t go to the first round with them, so was again represented by daughter Ria.

“Second place went to Acomb Alfie, the one pup in the line-up. He doesn’t turn two until the end of March ‘23, so I really hope we’ll see him in our BGBF British Bred Puppy Cup at Oxford next month. He’s one of a litter of six resulting from a repeat mating Hiya Butt x Acomb Ruby and, if they all perform as well as that first litter, then Kevin Ferguson will deservedly be very proud of them. Alfie’s certainly started well!

“Congratulations to all the BGBF British Bred Derby finalists and their connections!

“Fabulous Azurra – an August ‘19 daughter of Magical Bale x Fabulous Artist – is of course a litter sister of Derby champion Romeo Magico and could have a catch-up with her brother very soon as she’s booked to go over to Shelbourne Park for the Winter Racing Festival at the end of next week to run in the Bitch 525.

“John Mullins’ Signet Goofy, unlucky in running here tonight when he finished fifth in our Final, is also off to Shelbourne for the Festival, along with kennel-mate Ballymac Slapup. Frank Bryce’s British bred Baggios Champ (Kinloch Brae x Samiya) was originally on the Shelbourne list, but has picked up an injury so he’ll be staying at home.

“A bonus on the night was Sheffield’s running the final of their BGBF Graded Series – run as a handicap. The winner was Nah Then Molly, who came with a late run to grab the trophy. By Droopys Sydney out of Nah Then Bella and bred by John Marriott, litter-brother Fearsome Rocket was third for John, with the Ben Lewis-bred and Phil Sanderson-trained Gracie Brae between them in second in a tight finish.

“We all wish Signet Denver a speedy recovery. Bred by Kevin Hutton and trained by him for Tony Brealey, Denver won this year’s Produce Stakes at Swindon, the Laurels at Perry Barr and the BGBF Greyhound Stud Book Trophy at Towcester. He suffered a broken hock in this final which has very sadly ended his brilliant career, but Kev has told me he’s comfortable and will make a full recovery in time and, good news for breeders, will have a second career as a stud dog.

“On behalf of the BGBF I would like to thank the team at Sheffield who always do a great job putting on our British Bred Derby. There is always a great atmosphere there and the track replacement carried out in the summer looks absolutely fantastic and, even more importantly, performs perfectly.

“We are now looking forward to 2023. We held a very productive committee meeting before racing at Sheffield on Tuesday, followed by an AGM, and the minutes will be up on our website very soon, along with our plans for British-bred open racing next year.”