SIGNET OTIS and Signet Goofy, littermates from a January 2020 batch by Magical Bale out of Forest Natalee, landed a notable family double at Nottingham on Monday with respective victories in the finals of the BGBF British Breeders Stakes and BGBF British Bred Midlands Sprint Trophy.

Going one better than in December’s British Bred Derby Final at Sheffield and one better than in the Blue Riband at Towcester this year, Signet Otis plundered a deserved and gutsy major success in the British Breeders Stakes Final, the latest GBGB Category One competition at the Colwick Park venue.

Bred and trained by Kevin Hutton and part-owned by the Towcester handler along with Stephen Harvey, Signet Otis paced up well into the turn in the £10,000-to-the-winner British-bred showpiece. Holding off the challenge of favourite Shockwave Onyx (Kim Gooding) into the turn, before the latter was unluckily crowded out of contention, Signet Otis negotiated the first bend in front.

Thereafter the talented two-year-old was in full flow. However, Barrie Draper’s Locked Down unleashed a challenge down the far side and kept on really well all the way up the run-in to get within half a length of the winner who stopped the clock for the 500m in 30.05sec (+10). In winning, Signet Otis landed Kevin Hutton a second BGBF British Breeders Stakes title after Swansalona Diva’s success in 2014.

The John Mullins-trained Signet Goofy had earlier initiated the family double when justifying favouritism in the BGBF British Bred Midlands Sprint Trophy Final as he soon led to lead home Sonic Emjay by a length and three-quarters in 17.92sec (normal).

Liz Mort, chair of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum (BGBF), presented the trophy to connections of both the main competitions on the night.

She said: “Wow, what an evening, and what a fantastic Magical Bale litter this is with Signet Goofy taking the Midlands Sprint, and litter brother Signet Otis triumphant in the Category One British Breeders Stakes.

“Our Breeders Forum competitions are all about promoting British breeding and rewarding those who do it well, so Monday was a triumph all the way. This January 20 Magical Bale litter was bred by Kevin Hutton out of his bitch Forest Natalee – who must surely qualify as a super brood!

“Kev trains Breeders Stakes winner Signet Otis for owner Stephen Harvey, while John Mullins trains Signet Goofy. John reared the litter for Kevin at Dillymore, so well done and congratulations to connections of these amazing dogs.

“The Breeders Stakes Final was an especially exciting race. Shockwave Onyx sprang out to take an early lead, as he’d done in his heat and semi-final, but this time was challenged for the rails position on the bend by Signet Otis, who powered on through to take up the lead.

“On the home stretch the Simon Kneafsey-owned and Barrie Draper-trained Locked Down came through to challenge and looked to be succeeding, until Otis put in that extra effort to keep the white and black behind him and take the prize. All six in that final were very worthy dogs – all could be victors on another day.

“Kim Gooding’s December 19 Droopys Sydney x Southoe Silver litter might have been out of luck with Shockwave Onyx in the main event, but they had a decent night over all. Onyx’s litter brother Shockwave Iolite won the Arc Standard Trophy earlier in the evening.

“The winner of the Midlands Sprint was never in doubt. Signet Goofy took hold of the race very early on and was never going to let go, winning for owners Chris Waters and Lee Calcutt.

“On behalf of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum I’d like to thank the team at Nottingham, who put in a great effort to ensure this night ran smoothly, and Arc itself for their continued support of British breeding.

“We look forward to the 2023 renewal of these two great competitions.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=383208&raceId=824559