PATRICK JANSSENS landed a memorable six-timer, including the main event, on an extraordinary night for the now two-time Derby-winning handler on Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby Final at Towcester on Saturday.

His extraordinary haul was topped off by victory for Droopys Plunge in the £175,000 showpiece, but also included Romeo Tomcat’s (11-10F) victory in the PricedUp.Bet Derby Plate over the Classic trip of 500m as the British-bred came out on top after another battle for the spoils, this time with Kilmore Dancer (Mark Wallis).

After a superb close-run head-to-head with Irish raider Lennies Desire in the semis – the latter was withdrawn from the final in midweek – it was now Kilmore Dancer who pushed him close. Romeo Tomcat lead up and was joined by the Wallis runner rounding the last bend, before coming again for a head win in 28.77sec (normal).

Janssens and Romeo Tomcat’s owners and breeders David and Nicola Firmager also plundered the JR Racing Puppy Trophy Final with Romeo Ability (11-4) as a show of early pace from the youngster sealed a first-bend lead, with Droopys Poker running on to be a one-and-a-half length second. The winning time was 29.11sec (normal). 

The night had begun well for Janssens with success for Slick Sentinel (2-1) in the Star-Pelaw.Com Trophy as last year’s Juvenile Classic again underlined his love for Towcester with a strong-running three-quarters-of-a-length 29.07sec (normal) success from Irish raider Val Tashadelek (Graham Holland).

Kennelmate Romeo Empire (4-7F) again struck gold for the Janssens kennel when stepping up in distance to 712m with victory in the Star Pelaw Stakes, leading early and winning impressively from Crafty Prospero (Michelle Brown) by two and three-quarter lengths in 42.92sec (normal).

The Janssens six-timer was completed by Romeo Steel in the BGBF TruFrame Champion Stakes Final – the race after the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby Final – which was backed by owners and breeders the Firmagers along with the BGBF.

Utilising his trademark and searing burst of early speed, Romeo Steel set up a length victory from the closing Queen Shakira (Liz McNair) and Fabulous Sonique (Mark Wallis) in 28.87sec (normal), rounding off a memorable night for the Norfolk-based handler.

“I’d like to thank all the sponsors, but especially the team at Priced Up for sponsoring the Derby Plate and to Jack Russell and his team at JR Racing,” said Janssens. “They backed the puppy competition and had a runner in the final (Headford Asher) themselves, so no doubt wanted to win. However, Jack was a real gentleman at the presentation and I’m glad Maxine (Locke) won the very next race (Radical Scoby – greyhoundtrader.com Stakes).”

Of his other runners, Janssens said: “Slick Sentinel had a good Derby and loves Towcester as we knew, so I’m glad he won for Keith (Allsop), and Empire, Ability and Steel all did great for Dave and Nicola (Firmager). Empire might be one for the 3 Steps at Sheffield, Ability is going for the Juvenile Classic back here at Towcester, and maybe Steel and Tomcat will go to Hove for the Sussex Cup, but we’ll sit down and have a think.”