FABULOUS AZURRA began the defence of her title with victory in heat two of the BGBF British Bred Derby at Sheffield on Tuesday.

The Patrick Janssens-trained Bet365 Empress Stakes winner also won this year’s BGBF Oaks at Henlow so eyes a notable double in the British-bred Derby at the Owlerton Stadium – and she started her campaign in the best possible way.

Albeit crowded on the run to the bend, the August 2019 daughter of Magical Bale and Fabulous Artist was soon in top gear and, leading off the second bend, quickly settled the issue to score from Shockwave Ruby (Kim Gooding) and Moments Of Magic (Kevin Hutton).

The winning distance was six lengths and the time posted 28.93sec (-10), which matched Signet Denver’s effort in winning the opening heat.

However, Kevin Hutton’s dog, successful in three major competitions this year, starting with the Arc Laurels at Perry Barr before victories in Swindon’s Produce Stakes and then the BGBF Greyhound Stud Book Trophy at Towcester, was made to work hard for the win.

Hitting the front down the back, the January 2020 son of Magical Bale and Forest Natalee always looked in charge, albeit running-on Romeo On Tilt (Patrick Janssens) got to within three-quarters of a length of the winner. Inca Penny Black (Phil Barlow) finished third here.

Signet Denver’s litter brother Signet Otis, runner-up to Fabulous Azurra in this event 12 months ago and the reigning British Breeders Stakes winner at Nottingham, posted the fastest time of the session in heat three.

Quickly away, the two-year-old dominated throughout the 500m distance before crossing the line almost seven lengths clear of Romeo Top Gun (Patrick Janssens) and Acomb Irene (Kevin Ferguson), stopping the clock in 28.79sec (-10).

Shockwave Onyx, a British Bred Derby semi-finalist last year and multiple finalist in British-bred events this year, was faultless in winning heat four.

Kim Gooding’s December 19 son of Droopys Sydney and Southoe Silver was matched early on by BresBet Steel City Cup champion Signet Goofy (John Mullins) but pulled clear to win by five lengths from that rival and Acomb Alfie (Kevin Ferguson) in 28.83sec (-10).

Liz Mort, chair of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum, said:

“We saw four really good first-round heats on Tuesday from 16 different litters, which is testament to the increasing spread of quality among British-breds.

“Not for the first time the Magical Bale x Forest Natalee litter shone through, with the Signets Denver, Otis, Goofy and Moments Of Magic all through to the next stage. Otis posted the fastest time, but all four heat winners were close.

“Congratulations to Kevin Hutton for another outstanding performance from these Signet dogs and bitches he bred, and to him and John Mullins for their training skills in bringing out the best in them. They are definitely the stand-out British-bred litter.

“However, congratulations once again to Kim Gooding for a great run by Shockwave Onyx, owned and bred by herself and partner Dan Wiepen. Litter-sister Shockwave Ruby ran second to Fabulous Azurra in the second heat, so it’s two through for her.

“The Shockwave litter is the product of a long line of British-breds from Dilys Steels and Richard Devenish, going back to their great, great granddam, Dilys’s Glencoe Star – who was actually bred by Terry Dartnall – whelped in Jan 1996.

“Great to see Fabulous Azurra again. She’s a lovely bitch and, of course, won this competition last year. Breeder/owner David Firmager is also reaping the rewards of years of careful breeding and has some brilliant British-breds running, here and in Ireland.

“They include English Derby winner Romeo Magico, who incidentally runs in Saturday’s (Matchbook) Irish St Leger Final at Limerick, and there’s also a new set of good pups coming through. His Romeo Hotshot posted the best time in the first round of the RPGTV English Puppy Derby at Towcester on Sunday no less!

“It was also very good to see Acomb Alfie and Acomb Irene through to the semis as well – two from Kevin Ferguson’s repeat Hiya Butt x Acomb Ruby mating. Ruby’s first batch did so very well for him and now this March 21 litter are really showing a lot of progress now too. Well done to them.

“It looks as though we are going to see two exciting semi-finals on Tuesday, then a fantastic final on Tuesday, December 20.

“Thanks as always to Sheffield, who always put on a great competition for us. They are running their BGBF Graded Series Final that night, too, so we’re really looking forward to it – a real celebration of British breeding.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=391877&raceId=895552

Trap draw for Tuesday’s semi-finals: https://owlertonstadium.co.uk/events/bgbf-british-bred-derby-semi-final-trap-draw/