ACOMB FELIX led home littermates Acomb Irene and Acomb Johnny for a Kevin Ferguson-bred, trained and owned clean sweep in the final of the BGBF British Breeders Stakes Final at Nottingham on Monday.

 

In what proved to be Ferguson’s most successful night as a handler after a number of near-misses, the Yorkshireman landed his first Category One title after Acomb Felix took up the running down the back-straight after hot favourite Coppice Gracie faltered and lost her position after suffering a gracillis injury.

 

Thereafter, the Steel City Cup third and British Bred Derby runner-up never looked likely to be beaten as Acomb Felix crossed the line a length and half clear of Acomb Irene and Acomb Johnny, two of four members of the March 2021 batch by Hiya Butt out Acomb Ruby who made the final line-up in the £12,500 event.

 

The other was fifth-placed Acomb Alfie, but a 1-2-3 for the Kinsley handler delighted him and his three brothers and sister who joined him at the presentation podium, where Liz Mort, chair of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum, was on hand to present the trophy.

 

“We’re actually a litter of eight!” smiled Ferguson surrounded by his siblings. “I’m happy they’re here when we’ve finally won one. It’s taken a few goes but I can die happy I’ve won a Cat One now after 25 years trying! Of course, you never want to win like that and I wish Jimmy (Fenwick) and Tony (Brealey) all the best with Gracie – she’s a great bitch.

 

“We always felt Felix would be up there and so it proved. He deserves to win a big one after going close a couple of times and we were hopeful it might be our night after another of the litter Acomb Jasper just had his head down on the line when it mattered most in one of the earlier 500m races. He managed to win by a short-head.

 

“My thanks to Tim and Guy, who work with me, as do my wife Jackie and daughter Eleanor – they’re away at the moment and I’m joining them tomorrow! They all do a great job and played their part in what happened at Nottingham,” added the retired bricklayer. 

 

Liz Mort congratulated Kevin Ferguson for his feat in owning, training and breeding the first three home – and agreed the York-based handler was overdue success after numerous attempts in close calls in other major British-bred competitions.

 

“Congratulations to Kevin and the team – what a great night for them with first, second and third. Putting this into perspective, Kevin has a grand total of six racing dogs in his kennel – all from the same March 21 litter, the second by Hiya Butt out of their home-bred dam, Acomb Ruby – and there’s another litter from her on the ground, albeit unexpected!

 

“Acomb Ruby is by Kinloch Brae out of another Ferguson home-bred Ring Ouzel who was was by Westmead Hawk out of a very well-bred bitch Keg Of Powder (Top Honcho x First To Return). All six qualified for the semi-finals at Nottingham and four made the final – so from a breeding point of view it doesn’t get better than that!

 

“Kevin originally thought Acomb Felix was more of a sprinter and wasn’t sure the 500m at Nottingham was quite for him but he handled it well to land Kevin a first Cat One.

 

“Of course, our thoughts and best wishes were with connections of Coppice Gracie – Jimmy Fenwick and Tony Brealey – for a speedy recovery. Coppice Gracie was bred by Kevin Hutton by his 2018 Derby winner Dorotas Wildcat out of Not Too Late, also trained by Hutton and a half-sister (out of Bigmans Grainne) to Ice On Fire, who was Jimmy’s Greyhound of the Year, so she always had links to the north east!

 

“Not Too Late had made a very promising start to her career on the track but broke a hock in only her seventh race so was retired then mated to Dorotas Wildcat and had a litter of seven in November 21, one of which is Coppice Gracie. She had another litter for Hutton last year – nine pups – by Signet Denver, so they’ll be well worth looking out for.

 

“Sixth placed Tickets Bullet also deserves a mention. A recent addition to Jimmy Fenwick’s kennel, he was bred by Elizabeth Handley and is by Grangeview Ten out of her Vulturi bitch Francos Cas. Now owned by Melanie Fenwick, Tickets Bullet had won four of his ten races before this competition, and is an improving sort.

 

“We also saw the final of our BGBF British Bred Midlands Sprint Trophy, a Category Three, with Keefill George taking the spoils in this one.

 

“A March 21 dog by Skywalker Logan out of Tarsna Atalanta, he was bred by Phil Milner and is owned and trained by Phil and Keeley Cunningham.

 

“George won his heat well last week and was runner-up in the final of this event last year. Runner-up this time was Coppice Ebby (Magical Bale-Bravo Kiss) bred by Claire Conley and trained by William Russell for owner Tony Brealey.

 

“Our thanks as always, of course, to the team at Nottingham for hosting the competition so well and to Arc, without whose continuing support we would not be able to achieve what we do. Both we at the BGBF and Nottingham are immensely proud of the Breeders’ Stakes, which has a tremendous history and a brilliant roll of honour.

 

“The original Produce Stakes dates back to 1983 when Glatton Grange won the competition at Harringay. It then moved to Wembley, then Hall Green in 1993, then in 2009 to its home now at Nottingham – albeit the ‘new’ British Breeders’ Stakes at Nottingham had its inaugural running in 2013 when Adageo Bob won for Mark Wallis.

 

“So over the years, we’ve had 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) – a timely reminder that these famous greyhounds were all British-bred!    

     

“Then in more recent years we’ve seen the likes of Swansalona Diva, Eden The Kid, Romeo Rumble, King Louis, Candlelight Fire and Signet Otis win it – then last year Romeo Command, who went on to be second in the Derby, landed the spoils. Now, Acomb Felix has added his name to that roll call of champions!”