KING LOUIS secured back-to-back BGBF British Breeders Stakes titles for the KSS Syndicate and trainer Liz McNair when going one better in this year’s final at Nottingham on Monday.

Runner-up to litter sister Queen Dolly in last year’s British-bred showpiece at the Colwick Park venue, King Louis reversed that form with a superb show of all-round speed to claim the £6,500 prize for the Kent-based outfit.

Bred and reared at Brendan Keogh’s Ashford base, the January 2018 son of Leamaneigh Turbo and Queen Asia was always handy as the early exchanges saw Denmark (Tom Heilbron) break in front and lead into the bend.

However, challenged by Acomb Jenny (Kevin Ferguson) on the outside and Elderberry Sky (Patricia Cowdrill) inside, there were plenty of chances down the back before crowding inside saw King Louis range up outside and challenge for the lead rounding the final bends.

The destination of the prize was now between the eventual winner and Acomb Jenny, last year’s British Bred Northern Maiden Standard winner, with King Louis forging ahead on the run for the line to win by a length and a quarter in 29.63sec (+40) for the 500m trip.

The victory completed the same Nottingham double as the McNairs had achieved last year, with King Sam (Leamaneigh Turbo-Skate On, May 18) having earlier won the supporting BGBF British Bred Midland Sprint Trophy.

Queen Dolly and King Drake had achieved the same double for the owner/trainer combination in 2020 – so a fatal injury suffered by King Drake as he attempted a title defence in the sprint final was a desperately sad postscript to his brother King Sam’s victory.

Liz Mort, chair of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum (BGBF), said: “Firstly, my thoughts are with Liz and Rab, Brendan and the KSS team.

“It was so very sad that an otherwise great evening of racing was overshadowed by a tragic accident to King Drake. I know their dogs mean so much to them, the more so as they bred and reared them at their kennels. They are family.

“Both King Sam in the Midland Sprint Trophy and King Louis in the British Breeders Stakes were very worthy winners and I congratulate Liz and Rab and, of course, Brendan Keogh on a brilliant programme of breeding that consistently throws up so many good dogs.

“King Louis was runner-up in the competition in November and this time turned the tables on Queen Dolly who had to settle for third this time – still a great achievement.

“Acomb Jenny’s efforts in finishing second also must be commended. Kevin Ferguson’s Hiya Butt-Acomb Ruby litter is a special one, and don’t forget littermate Acomb Fatima was third in the Midlands Sprint. What a great achievement from Kevin.

“Looking at the list of finalists, though, I was struck by the fact that on another day any one of them could have crossed the line in front. It really was a competitive final, full of high class-dogs, all bred in the UK now. None were there to make up the numbers, so congratulations to all who took part.

“On behalf of the BGBF, I would also like to thank everyone who is involved with, or supports, British breeding!

“Our programme this year won’t be quite as ambitious as last, as post-Covid there just isn’t the money for us to do it, but we are trying to make the most of what we have got and hopefully everything will be on a much better footing again in 2022.

“But we’re looking forward to our next event which will be a maiden event at Sheffield in May, then in June our Northern Maiden and Northern Sprint take place at Newcastle.

“As well as our other competitions, we have a very exciting new Category One Puppy Cup to look forward to at Towcester in October.

“I’d like to thank the team at Nottingham, who work hard to ensure the smooth running of the British Breeders Stakes and British Bred Midland Sprint Trophy.

“Covid has made everything so much more difficult, but it’s a tribute to all the tracks that racing has managed to continue through the pandemic.

“There’s also some good news for potential British breeders with a record number of new stud dogs registered during the first few months of 2021, which in these Covid and Brexit times could make it easier for breeders to have their bitches mated.

“Some of these stud dogs are young and unproven, but the bloodlines are there!

“Indeed, in the last few weeks we have registered new stud dogs Ballymac Inspeed, who is litter brother of the GBGB’s Stayer of the Year Smallmead, and Ballymac Micko, who’s a litter brother of Pestana.

“Alfies Prince, Grays Cup Winner and Ballymac Alfonse have been registered too. Sire of that classy Acomb Ruby litter, Hiya Butt, has been re-registered and is standing in Cambridgeshire with Roxholme Nidge and Roxholme Hat.

“We also have a Greyhound of the Year on the books in Ice On Fire, who’s proving quite a busy lad, not unexpectedly!

“The 2017 Derby champion Astute Missile is standing in Norfolk, and Droopys Roddick is now at Merefield Stud for natural matings.

“And although King Elvis, King Turbo and King Sheeran went to stand in Ireland last year with Eden The Kid and Quietly, the McNairs have brought over a supply of vials from them all, so the future of British breeding really couldn’t be brighter!”