LIZ MORT, chair of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum, was among the first to congratulate connections of Countess Penny after the Richie Taberner-trained runner became the first winner of the Two Year Old Produce Stakes at the Betway Towcester Racecourse on Sunday.

The 80th running of the British breeding showcase was staged over 500m at Towcester following its switch from Swindon and, sharing the stage with the Category Two final of the Elite Southern Supplies Northamptonshire Sprint, the four-round competition came to a conclusion with success for the Monmore-based outsider who saved her best for last when producing a powerful finish to land the £10,000 spoils.

Owned by the Not So Famous Five syndicate, Countess Penny was led by Romeo Astron (Tom Heilbron) but was always handy and stayed on strongest of all to lead on the run for home to cross the line a length and a quarter clear of the Newcastle raider with Keefill Teak (Phil Milner) crossing the line in third in 28.95sec (+10) for the 500m trip.

The winner is a July 2024 daughter of King Sheeran, himself a Produce Stakes winner, and Droopys Tess who has progressed up the ranks from her debut at Monmore in A6 in February.

“It was a great race and final at Towcester and, while the betting suggested it was a surprise, it was definitely fully deserved and congratulations go to Richie (Tabener) and Stuart Forsdike, Penny’s breeder, and to Richard Parkin’s Not So Famous Five syndicate,” said Mort.

“Well done also to runner-up Romeo Astron for Tom Heilbron and owner and breeder David Firmager. Astron is by the Australian sire Aston Rupee out of the Firmagers’ home-bred Fabulous Azurra, a very talented tracker and sister of an English Derby winner Romeo Magico. Azurra won the British Bred Derby and British Bred Oaks twice.

“Our thanks go to Towcester for hosting the event for the first time and for really making it a celebration of British breeding.

“There were a few British-bred winners on the card and we are already looking forward to next year and the BGBF 81st Two Year Old Produce Stakes which will be for pups whelped in 2025 – some of whom will be on the track now!”