LIZ MORT has congratulated breeder Dave Firmager after Romeo Control led home a Romeo-prefixed one-two-three in the BGBF British Breeders Stakes at Nottingham.

Mort, chair of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum (BGBF), was at Colwick Park on Monday to make the presentation to winning trainer Diane Henry and owner Kevin Boothby after Romeo Control’s all-the-way success in the £12,500 showpiece and, while delighted for the winning owner and trainer, had special praise for the Firmagers.

“Just as Kevin Ferguson managed a one-two-three with his Acombs last year, David and Nicola have done fantastically well with the Romeos crossing the line three-in-a-row in 2025. It helped make it another really memorable night at Nottingham for the finals of the BGBF Breeders Stakes and BGBF Midlands Sprint,” she said.

Mort added: “The BGBF British-bred Breeders’ Stakes is a race with history. It was 

originally the second BGBF-run Produce Stakes and there were two Produce 

Stakes a year from 1983, when this one was first run, together with the one 

at Swindon until late 2012.

“It was after 2012 when the BGBF felt it could no longer run it as a Produce Stakes that Nottingham took it on and ran it as an all-aged event – renaming it the BGBF British Breeders’ Stakes.

“That first running of the BGBF Produce Stakes in 1983 was held at Harringay and won by Dilys Steels’s Glatton Grange. It moved to Wembley in 1987, to Hall Green in 

1993, then in 2009 to its home now, here at Nottingham.

“Over the years we saw such winners as Fearless Champ (1985), Phantom Flash (1990), Westmead Spirit (dam of Irish Derby finalist Currie Kid), Westmead Merlin (1994), 

Staplers Jo (1995), Westmead Hawk (2005) and Romeo Recruit (2012).

“That’s a reminder, too, that these famous greyhounds were British-bred!

“From a breeders point of view the evening was a testament to the breeding 

skills of the Firmagers, whose knowledge of greyhound breeding is second to none. Having a home-bred English Greyhound Derby winner to your name – Romeo Magico – is up there with the best you can do in this great sport.

“And although David doesn’t own Romeo Control, the dog having been very recently bought by Kevin Boothby – Kevin is another great supporter of British breeding – their home-bred dogs filling the first three places on Monday is something special.

“Romeo Control made all the running and took the trophy. He’s an October 22 whelp by the Firmagers’ home-bred Romeo Recruit who won this competition in 2012 when it was still the BGBF Produce Stakes! Boothby is now contemplating a tilt at the English Greyhound Derby for his new star, which is no surprise.

“Romeo Command was second. He’s a dog whose brilliance is well known being runner-up in the 2023 Derby and is a son of a Derby winner in Dorotas Wildcat. He won the BGBF British Breeders’ Stakes two years ago, but couldn’t get to the younger dog on this occasion.

“Third placed went to Romeo Empire – a young dog with a big future. He’s a February 23 whelp, so only just out of puppy status, he’s from the first litter sired by the Firmagers’ aforementioned home-bred 2022 Derby winner Romeo Magico. He impressed in the semi-finals and definitely did not disgrace in the final. Watch this dog!

“Since 2020 we’ve also run the BGBF British Bred Midlands Sprint alongside 

the Breeders’ Stakes. This has proved a popular competition and works well 

alongside the standard distance Category One and, on Monday, we saw 

another Firmager-bred and owned success when Romeo Steel won with a fine run 

that set a new track record of 17.32sec for the sprint.

“There’s interesting breeding here, too, as his dam, Fabulous Amalfi, is a litter-sister of Romeo Magico. Magico is really establishing himself as a good stud dog now and 

Monday definitely added to his CV in this respect as well. Another of his offspring, Romeo Alliance, one from his October 23 litter out of Fabulous Mila, won on his debut.

“All the finalists in both finals deserve congratulations. Our thanks to the team 

at Nottingham and to Arc for supporting British breeding and running this 

competition so very well every year.

“It’s always a real highlight of our Calendar and the title British Breeders’ Stakes winner is one of the most prestigious for a breeder, a trainer, or an owner to claim.”

For the record, Romeo Control, a 14-1 chance, cut loose early to land the showpiece BGBF British Breeders Stakes event for Diane Henry.

Making all the running, he kept the staying-on Romeo Command (Patrick Janssens) at bay to win by a half a length in 29.69sec (+30), with the latter’s kennelmate Romeo Empire finishing best of all to claim third, edging out last year’s winner Acomb Felix (Kevin Ferguson) close home.