ZAHA led home kennelmate and litter sister Emotional to score a fantastic one-two for in-form Swindon trainer Angie Kibble in Sunday’s BGBF St Leger Final at Central Park.

Just a week after winning the Property192 Oaks at her home track with Ballymac Trend, Kibble sent out two littermates from a December 2017 batch by Droopys Jet she bred out of her Ladbrokes Golden Jacket champion Wiki Waki Woo to dominate the £3,000-to-the-winner British-bred feature – the final competition of 2020

Once he trapped well, the Category Two event always looked at the mercy of Zaha who set the tempo up front, racing into a clear advantage which he never looked likely to relinquish. He eventually crossed the line two and three-quarter lengths clear of Emotional, who edged out Manassas (David Mullins) for second. The winning time was 40.23sec.

The winner is trained by Kibble for owner and longtime kennel supporter Jonathan Miles, who also part-owns the runner-up with his trainer.

He said: “Angie has done such a great job breeding, rearing and training these greyhounds – so it’s great for her to be rewarded by winning this competition.

“I always thought the trip looked to stretch ‘Wilfried’s’ stamina but he’s run an absolute stormer to lead all the way and hold off his sister. Of course, he’s named after a Crystal Palace legend, although after our last two performances against Liverpool and Aston Villa us Palace fans needed a much needed boost!

“I know she started favourite and was beaten, but I thought Emotional ran really well to get second. Season-permitting she should be off to Crayford for the [Ladbrokes] Golden Jacket to see if she can follow in her mum’s footsteps!

“Many thanks to Angie and her team, but also many thanks to the BGBF [British Greyhound Breeders’ Forum] for putting these comps on and encouraging British breeding.”

BGBF chair Liz Mort said: “It’s been a great finish to 2020 for British breeding. We’ve had major events at Sheffield (British Bred Derby) and now here at Central Park – plus the winner of the Towcester Puppy Derby was a British-bred, too, in Seamus Cahill’s Surprising.

“It’s well done again to Angie (Kibble) and her team. They’re in cracking form given they won the Oaks only recently and now get a one-two in the BGBF St Leger Final with littermates out of their 2015 Golden Jacket-winning dam. And for owner Jonathan Miles it’s a fantastic end to the year, too.

“Thanks to Central Park for staging this prestigious British-bred race again. It was due to have been staged earlier in the year, but because of Covid was pushed back. A few events fell by the wayside, but not our British-bred events and thanks to Central Park for rescheduling the competition.

“It’s been a challenging year, but we have a decent book of events and competitions for 2021 lined up – plus a British Bred Graded Series – so there’s plenty to look forward to.”

Dan Homewood, Central Park racing manager, said: “Well done to Angie Kibble and her team – her greyhounds performed great on the night and the kennel has deserved another major trophy.

“It’s really nice to stage these British-bred events and to promote British breeding and is definitely something we need to push moving forward.

“From a track perspective, it was nice to stage the final open races of 2020 and we plan to launch 2021 in exactly the same way next Sunday.

“The situation remains a difficult one in terms of racing behind closed doors but our commitment to open racing, where possible and where financially viable, remains strong. There are some exciting plans in place for 2021 here.”

Results: www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=369114&raceId=700685