FENVIEW ROSIE, trained by Peterborough by Paul Steward, was a surprise but deserved 12-1 winner of the George Ing St Leger Grand Final at Yarmouth on Thursday.

Landing her trainer his biggest prize as a handler, 22-kilo bitch Fenview Rosie proved again she is a little greyhound with a big heart as she withstood challenges from Romeo Mandate, Murrys Act and finally Droopys Eager on route to winning the £2,500 prize by half-a-length from Irene Barnard’s local Droopys Eager in 40.59sec (+30) for the 659m trip.

A Peterborough 620m track record holder last September, the September 2015 daughter of Kinloch Brae and Princess Aine is owned by Denise Rugg, John Ellis and Jeffrey Palmer and was the outsider of the field as the runners went to traps for the six-bend final, sponsored by Jack Cranfield.

However, always prominent behind fast-breaking Barricane Tommy, Fenview Rosie was in pole position against the fence after first-bend crowding and, in the words of her trainer, she “kept on pulling” to claim the inaugural running of the competition, named in memory of sponsor Cranfield’s late grandfather.

Winning trainer Steward said: “She’s game and tenacious and just kept on finding more, she kept on pulling, but that’s here and I’m almost speechless. It’s my biggest win and has come at a time when we’ve just extended the kennels and are looking to make the switch from Greyhound to Professional Trainer.

“She’s our little superstar and we always thought she had a chance. She loves the red jacket and ran well in the heats when leading to the run-in. She hadn’t had much six-bend racing, so we knew would improve for the heat run. She’s certainly pretty good for a bitch who we bought out of the Peterborough sales for 800 guineas!”

Congratulating winning connections, sponsor Cranfield said afterwards: “She’s tiny but has got so much heart clearly. She really deserved that because she’s a small one who was put under pressure a few times but came through in good style. It’s the first time we’ve staged the event, and she’s a worthy winner indeed.”

Cranfield’s support of the Category Two competition heralds a new commitment to backing races at the seaside venue, where he owns greyhounds with John Mullins. His company Quickcall Maintenance and Engineering will be backing a series of open races at the family-owned venue.

“It’s a great track, so friendly and the Franklin family do a great job. Having some open races here and competitions has been well received by owners and trainers, and that’s why we’re doing it. We’re fans of open racing and hopefully these races will be supported, and the feedback the racing office have got suggest they will.”

Results: www.gbgb.org.uk/resultsMeeting.aspx?id=160403