ACOMB WINSTON was quickest in the heats of the BGBF British Breeders Stakes at Nottingham on Monday as his owner, trainer and breeder Kevin Ferguson landed a double in the Category One event.

The August 2018 son of Hiya Butt and Acomb Ruby, who also won his heat last year when the event was staged in November, made all to post 29.66sec (+30) for the 500m in heat three as he crossed the line almost five lengths clear of clear of Produce Stakes finalist Lights Out (Kevin Hutton) and King Axle (Liz McNair).

The Ferguson double was completed in heat six by litter sister Acomb Jenny as, leading off the second bend, the two-year-old also powered away to a comfortable victory with a four-and-a-half length success over Queen Franklin (Liz McNair) and Sharpys Jimmy (John Sharp).

The winning time was 29.86sec (+30), with Acomb Jenny now looking to add to her British-bred success in last year’s BGBF British Bred Northern Maiden Standard Final at Newcastle.

The opening heat finished on a sad note with a career-ending injury suffered by the KSS Syndicate-owned and bred Queen Jessiej.

Recently named British Bred Greyhound of the Year and Bitch of the Year for 2020 at the GBGB Awards, last year’s brilliant Produce Stakes winner led until the fourth bend but something was clearly amiss with Liz McNair’s champion as she dropped out having suffered a broken hock which has been operated on.

The breeding paddocks now beckon for the May 2018 daughter of Leamaneigh Turbo and Skate On once her recovery is complete.

Victory in this heat went to the Sean Parker-trained Barnside Millie (Rio Quattro-Barnside Chloe, April 2018) who came through to cross the line three lengths clear of Sharpys Rocket (John Sharp) and Tele Lad (Alec Stone). The winning time was 30.06sec (+30).

Angie Kibble landed a one-two with littermates Zaha and Emotional in heat two as the pair finished in the same order as they did in the British Bred St Leger Final at Central Park in December, the former getting first run on his sister to cross the line a half a length in front in 29.91sec (+30).

Denmark landed a first victory for new trainer Tom Heilbron in heat four as last year’s British Breeders semi-finalist reached the same stage again as he gave a start and a beating to defending champion Queen Dolly (Liz McNair), who ran well on her return, winning by a length and a quarter in 29.78sec (+30). Sharpys Pluto (John Sharp) was third here.

Boca Junior then landed a litter double for breeders Mike and George Burton as Denmark’s brother stayed on best to deny King Louis (Liz McNair) by a head in 29.99sec (+30). British Bred Derby champion Elderberry Sky finished a close-up third here for Pat Cowdrill’s kennel.

Liz Mort, chair of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum (BGBF), said: “We saw some great racing at Nottingham in what is our first British-bred event of 2021, although it was so sadly overshadowed by Queen Jessiej’s injury. All our thoughts immediately after and today were with Rab and Liz McNair, Brendan Keogh and their team.

“She’s been a brilliant bitch and, while it looks as though we won’t see her on the track again, she’ll be heading for the breeding paddocks. She was rightly crowned British Bred Greyhound of the Year last year, as well as Bitch of the Year, and I’m sure in a couple of years she’ll be like her own dam Skate On and be crowned Best Dam of British Bred!

“It was fitting the McNairs ended the evening with four qualifying through to next week’s semi-finals, including Queen Dolly, who won the last running of this stake in November. I’m sure we’ll see the McNairs/KSS combination represented in the final again, perhaps more than once! Good luck to them.

“Acomb Winston posted the night’s fastest time and ran really impressively. I spoke to Kevin (Ferguson) and he’s naturally delighted with how both Acomb Winston and his sister Acomb Jenny ran – and why shouldn’t he be? This is a fantastic litter – every one of the five have won opens – and their dam Acomb Ruby is shortly due to have another litter by Hiya Butt.

“They’re due in a couple of weeks, so if this current litter is anything to go by, Kevin will have a load more winners in his kennel from the repeat mating!

“It was good to see litter brother and sister Zaha and Emotional produce a good one-two  for Angie Kibble, while that September 18 Taylors Sky-Terminator litter for the Burtons showed up really well again with Liberty Belle, Lights Out and Boca Junior all qualifying for Kevin Hutton, while litter brother Denmark, now under new ownership for Lee Weatherstone and Martin Thrumble, scored for Tom Heilbron.

“Well done to the connections of all Monday’s qualifiers and thanks to Nottingham for hosting the competition so well – especially streaming the semi-final draw straight away!

“We’re looking forward to Monday and, of course, the final in two weeks’ time!”

Trap draw and form for Monday’s semi-finals: www.bagsracing.com/assets/15-march—nottingham-adv.pdf