ROMEO COMMAND followed up his track record run on New Year’s Eve with a runaway fastest-of-the-round 28.91sec (-10) as Patrick Janssens’ English Derby runner-up set the standard in the heats of the Blue Riband over 500m at Towcester on Sunday.

Janssens had sent out Lautaro to post the fastest time in official trial stakes for the prestigious four-bend competition 12 months ago and now repeated the dose with the January 2021 son of Dorotas Wildcat and Drive On Betsy, who looks a real Derby contender again later this year.

However, the semi-finals of the Blue Riband now await after a first-lead lead in the last of six heats at the weekend as Romeo Command ran amok and pulled clear to ultimately cross the line an incredible nine and a half lengths from Derby Plate winner Whyaye Man (Mark Wallis) and Hurry Up Jordan (John Lambe).

John Mullins landed a double in the Towcester heats courtesy of 2023 Steel City Cup winner Swift Iconic in heat two, quickly followed by British-bred star Signet Goofy, the 2022 Steel City Cup winner, in heat three.

First up was Swift Iconic as the October 2020 son of Droopys Roddick and Swift Biology, who also finished second in last year’s Yarmouth Derby, came through an early battle with Droopys Prymetime (Mark Wallis) before going on to score by a length and a quarter from Chelms Sonny (Craig Morris) and Burj Khalifa (Diane Henry) in 29.56sec (-20).

Kennelmate Signet Goofy then produced an outstanding exhibition of front-running as the British Bred Derby third continued his top-class form as a senior as the January 2020 son of Magical Bale and Forest Natalee burst clear to score by two and a quarter lengths from Nowitsmyturn (Richard Rees) and Savana Top Cat (Chris Hamblin) in 29.62sec (-20).

The event kicked off with Ower Mystery improving his UK record still further by making it five wins from six starts since joining June Harvey, the May 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Nice Mystery always just ahead before holding the persistent and game Wrighty (John Mullins) Fabuous Sonique (Mark Wallis) by three-quarters of a length in 29.77sec (-20).

Savana Shay was second quickest on the day behind Romeo Command as Diane Henry’s improving September 2021 son of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Arminta was quickly into stride and raced clear to score by four and a half lengths from Kilara Show (Richard Rees) and Newinn Ranger (Mark Wallis) in a very fast 29.14sec (-10).

The remaining heat five of the GBGB Category One competition also went impressively to Nottingham Eclipse champion and Hove Olympic runner-up Newinn Syd as the Mark Wallis-trained runner grabbed quick-starting pair of Tommys Boss and Wasted Monday (Belinda Green) to win from Droopys Venus (Stephen Fletcher) and Wasted Monday by almost three lengths in 29.38sec (-10).

Towcester racing manager Andy Lisemore said: “Hopefully we’ve started the year as we mean to go on – with some top-class racing.

“Well done to all our heat winners and semi-final qualifiers. Obviously Romeo Command was quickest and most impressive. Breaking the track record on New Year’s Eve with that 28.64sec run was something else and he was the only one to dip under 29 seconds on Sunday, albeit in slower conditions.

“I’d say he looks as good as ever this year and must be a leading player again in the (Star Sports) English Greyhound Derby if everything goes to plan for Patrick’s (Janssens) dog – the year has certainly started well enough for him.

“The Blue Riband has a great history going back to its Wembley days which I remember well and it’s just great to see top-class dogs going for what is a famous roll of honour.”