WITTON DERECHO, the sole bitch in the final, produced a career-best effort to claim gold in Thursday’s inaugural BGBF British Bred Northern Plate Final at Newcastle – and now has another British-bred competition as her next target.

Landing the spoils for her trainer Jill Sutherst, assistant and partner Glenn Lynas, the December 2016 daughter of Tullymurry Act and Alice Wake Up was bred at the couple’s Bishop Auckland kennels in Durham – making the success extra special.

Quick to stride, Witton Derecho was soon in command and repeated her impressive all-the-way semi-final success when stretching clear to win by a length and a quarter from the staying-on King Lennon, posting  28.30sec for the 480m trip – fastest in the event.

Winning trainer Sutherst, landing her first Category One success, paid tribute to the work of her daughter Kim (McGiven), who joined the presentation with the rest of the family including sister Kelly (Macari), the Newcastle trainer.

Sutherst said: “Myself and Glenn were in Spain for a few days, so Kim looked after everything – and she’s done a great job. We’re all delighted and it’s nice to win a Cat One ourselves – Kelly’s won a few, so it’s nice to win one, especially here in the north east.

“Our thanks must go to Liz Mort and the BGBF because without these competitions and incentives to breed we probably wouldn’t do it. Thanks also to Newcastle for their hospitality – the track was in great shape throughout the event.

Lynas added: “What a great night – and what a fantastic bitch we have. I felt she was still improving and she’s deserved this, especially having run so well in the British Bred Oaks at Doncaster – I thought she was a touch unlucky there.

“She always had to break well to show her best, but she’s been trapping really well – I do think she’s best out of trap two – and she’s clever at the bend too, she saves ground, and then it’s just a case of keeping her form, which she did so well.

“I’m 63 now and have been involved in the game for 40 years – and this is my best night in the sport! It means so much when you breed them yourselves, we’ve seen her grow and to win the first British Bred Northern Plate is just great.”

Sutherst and Lynas, who trained Witton Maggie to finish second to Greenacre Lin at the St Leger Final at Wimbledon in 2005, currently have three litters they bred at the kennels, two of which are racing – as Sutherst explained:

“There’s the December 2016 Tullymurry Act-Alice Wake Up litter and a December 17 Ballymac Vic-Didnt Do It litter, plus we a young July 18 Supreme Product-Nippy Impact litter which are at schooling age. They keep us busy!”

More immediately, Witton Derecho will trial at Nottingham on Monday ahead of a crack at the BGBF/Nottingham Breeders Stakes which starts at the Colwick Park venue on Monday, October 7.

Ian Walton, Newcastle general manager, congratulated connections of Witton Derecho and expressed himself delighted with the first running of the British Bred Northern Plate.

He said: “I thought the whole event was outstanding, but I must pay particulate tribute to the work behind the scenes of Liz Mort and all the trainers who entered runners, especially Liz and Rab McNair who really have put in the miles for this competition.

“On that basis, it was good to see their King Lennon run such a good race to finish second, but it’s well done to Sunderland and to Jill, Glenn and all the team. They have clearly done a fantastic job with Witton Derecho.

“We can now look forward to a really strong open-race finish to the year with the All England Cup next month and Northern Puppy Derby in December. We are also busy working on the Laurels and securing a slot for that competition, too.”