CHURCHFIELD SYD landed a deserved big-race success with a brilliant all-the-way victory in the Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby Final at Central Park on Sunday.

Always held in the highest regard, the Richard Rees-trained runner first came to prominence in the build-up to the Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby at Monmore with a brace of fast wins building up to the event in February before running amok in the heats, dipping under the 28 seconds barrier there.

However, a Monkey muscle injury in the semi-finals when clear of his field in the semi-finals looked to have put his career in threat and the June 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Millbank Jade spent a long spell on the sidelines. However, nursed back to fitness by the team at Rees’s Surrey kennels, Churchfield Syd has continued to impress.

Runner-up in the Ladbrokes Gold Cup back at Monmore behind the exceptional Links Maverick, he also reached the final of the M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup before being targeted at the PGR Kent Derby at the Sittingbourne venue.

A trap-to-line winner of his heat and semi-final, the Steve and Billy Evans and Daryl Bear-owned star was backed to win the £20,000 final at the weekend, replacing original favourite and track-record holder Droopys Clue (Seamus Cahill) at the head of the market, with the latter looking to face a tough midfield draw.

Well away in the 491m decider, Churchfield Syd was soon in charge and on his way to success in the GBGB Category One feature with hardly a moment’s worry for connections once turning the first two bends in front from Asbo Lenny (Paul Donovan), albeit it was Derby runner-up Romeo Command (Patrick Janssens) who finished best for second.

However, Churchfield Syd had two and a half lengths to spare over his rivals at the winning line, lifting the title in 29.15sec (normal).

Charlie Rees, son of winning trainer Richard, said: “He’s a champion this dog and so deserves this win. We always thought the world of him and were rock-bottom when he broke down at Monmore – we feared the worst. However, it proved not as bad as it could have been and it was just a question of time – four months in the end.

“We all needed to be patient with him but time proved the best healer and then to see him be the only one to give Links Maverick something to think about at Monmore in the Gold Cup – not once, but three times – gave us real hope for the future. The Birmingham Cup went well until the final and then he’s just flown round Central Park four times.”

It was a busy weekend for the Rees kennel with two finalists in the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks at Perry Barr on Saturday – Whats Up Eva and Starshinestunner – and runners at Towcester on Sunday, with Charlie and his mum Jackie (assistant trainer) overseeing Central Park as they had throughout the event.

“Dad did Perry Barr with mum on Saturday, so it’s been a busy weekend all-round but wins like this make it all worthwhile. I’m delighted for Steve, Billy (Evans) and Daryl (Bear) who all love Syd and it’s going to be nice to sit down with them at some point and talk about the future – although I’d say that’s him now for the year.

“He’ll be laid off and brought back next year for the (Ladbrokes) Winter Derby then, all being well, we’ll look at Towcester for him and the (Star Sports) Derby.”