SIGNET HAWK landed trainer Luke Morrison his biggest success when winning the latest British-bred showpiece staged on Wednesday, the BGBF Sprint Final at Harlow.

Breaking handily enough, the May 2017 son of Ballymac Vic and Dorotas Irena quickly joined issued with fast-starting Rogue Gangster (Belinda Green) before racing clear to win by three and three-quarter lengths from Queen Izzy (Liz McNair) in 14.66sec for the 238m trip – just a length outside Chopchop Hope’s record set last year.

It completed an unbeaten run through the £4,000 event for Signet Hawk, who started his career with Morrison’s former boss Kevin Hutton, who remains as part-owner of the two-year-old along with his current trainer, plus Matt Carpenter and Jonathan Miles, having joined Morrison earlier this year.

“Kevin called me up and said he needed to make space in the kennel and, I think quite reluctantly because he liked him, asked if I wanted him. I had no hesitation!” explained Morrison. “Kevin wanted to stay as an owner, which was cool with me, and I asked Matt and Jonathan if they’d come in along with myself.

“Kevin explained there had been an issue with his metatarsal after a fall, so there was no rush initially and gave him time to settle in here. He was all paid up for the Produce Stakes and made it through the first round, but tweaked his groin and did it again when I trialled him at Yarmouth for the Derby there.

“He’s a dog who puts in 110 per cent in his races and, given he’d done a fast sprint trial at Yarmouth, I just thought sprinting would give him a chance to get some racing in. Wednesday’s final was just his fourth run for me in seven months, but he’s come through the Harlow comp great and now we’ll think about the National Sprint at Nottingham.

“The long run to the bend and 305m will suit him. He improved on the clock at Harlow in heat, semi-final and final – that’s what you always like to see – and it’s great to win my biggest comp. Millroad Susie reached the Kent St Leger final at Crayford and on Sunday won a Cat Three at Central Park, now Signet Hawk has won a Cat Two for us.”

Signet Hawk was bred by Mark Beattie, owner of Dorotas Irena, with the litter whelped down and reared by Craig Dawson in Hawick.

Winning trainer Morrison, now based in Colchester, Essex, where he shares kennels with fellow Central Park trainer Jenni March, paid tribute to both Harlow and the British Greyhound Breeders Forum (BGBF) for staging the event.

“British breeding is something I’m certainly ready to get into as a trainer and what they’ve been doing for British-bred dogs is great. Hopefully we can see even more of these events around the tracks – and I thought Harlow was in terrific shape. The surface was superb and  you can see they’ve done plenty of work there.”

Liz Mort, chair of the BGBF, said: “I thought it was a great run by Signet Hawk to win for Luke Morrison, who’s done a great job with the dog to get him back on track after an injury setback last year. He’s clearly in fine form now and did not put a paw wrong throughout the event.

“Overall it was a really good competition, and a great final. All six thoroughly deserved to be there and Harlow did a fantastic job with the event – thanks to David Barclay and his team and thanks also to SIS who are enormously supportive of British breeding.

“We’re busy at the moment planning our competitions for next year – and next week we’re at Romford with a marathon event. However, of course, our big event on the horizon is our BGBF British Bred Derby at Sheffield in December.

“We’re also holding our AGM that evening – at 5.30pm before racing – so anyone with an interest in British breeding is invited. Exciting and busy times.”