KEEFILL ROCKY led home a one-three for Phil Milner and Keeley Cunningham in the BGBF British Bred Puppy Cup Final at Sunderland.

On a night the Wearside track also staged the final of the Arena Racing Company Puppy Trophy, another Category Two event, it was the experienced Keefill Rocky who landed a knockout blow on rivals in the British breeding feature with a fast start setting up a two-length victory over King Floyd (Dan Brabon) in 27.26sec (normal) for the 450m trip.

Third home was Keefill Rocky’s kennelmate Keefill Goose, giving the same owner, trainer and breeder combination of Milner and Cunningham a cracking return in the £7,500-to-the-winner contest – and, for the winner, adding to his Category One BGBF British Bred Derby success at Sheffield in December 2024.

Congratulating connections of the September 2022 son of Droopys Addition and Nah Then Bella, Sunderland general manager Joanne Wilson said: “It’s great we can support British breeding in this way – and well done to Phil and Keeley.

“They have made huge strides from a British breeding perspective in recent years and victories like this for Keefill Rocky must be extra special when they’ve bred them themselves.

“Overall we had a great night with two Cat Two finals and I’m sure the journey back down south for Maxine Locke’s team would have been a lot easier after Annadown Chip’s win – and well done to his owners the JR Racing Syndicate, especially with Chip’s sister Annadown Wendy getting third in the final, too.

“The Puppy Trophy here always has good winners – Slingshot Poppy won it last year, remember – and Annadown Chip is a worthy addition to the roll of honour.”

*MOANING HEARNS also landed a knockout blow on his rivals to land the £3,000 SIS British Bred Sprint Final at Harlow.

The Category Two event over 238m saw Darren Whitton’s September 2023 son of Roxholme Nidge and Azzurri Mocha reel in pace-setting Sunnyside Ted (Dave Lee) on the run for home for a length success in 14.97sec (+10).

The winner began his career with Whitton at Crayford in A8 company before making the switch to Harlow where he rose up the ranks from D4 to D1.

The Dean Perkins-owned Moaning Hearns numbers wins not just at the Essex venue but at Star Pelaw and Suffolk Downs. However, Monday’s victory in the two-bend showpiece at Harlow was the biggest win of his career.