DESPERADO DAN landed the GBGB Category One title his talents have deserved when completing his domination of the Ladbrokes Gold Collar in Saturday’s £8,000 final at Crayford.

In extending trainer Patrick Janssens’ lead at the top of the GBGB Trainer of the Year standings, Desperado Dan was adding to his Coral Coronation Cup victory won at Romford last year – which was then a Category Two event.

A winner of both his heat and semi-final at the Kent track, the January 2017 son of Iso Octane and Slaneyside Mandy broke well and paced up to lead fast-starting Ballynabee Jet (Samantha West) at the first bend and was on his way.

Soon clear, Desperado Dan crossed the line six and a quarter lengths clear of Ballynabee Jet with Maysthistlecrack (Pam Dolby) a length further back in third. The winning time was 33.64sec for the 540m trip, matching the best for this year’s event.

A delighted trainer Janssens said: “This is a long-deserved Category One for one of the most consistent dogs in training. He’s now had 80 runs in the UK with 37 wins and 18 seconds. That’s an amazing record for the class of dog he runs against – all the time!

“He’s almost four now and still running great. He won two rounds of the Derby last year but we thought this year we’d sidestep Nottingham with him as we thought he had a great chance to do well in the Gold Collar – and he did!

“Dan is Ria’s (daughter and kennelhand) favourite dog and all the kennel – and owner Evan Herbert – are over the moon he won the Cat One. He was bouncing the morning after and the [Coral] Essex Vase at Romford will be his next target.

“I’d like to thank GVC for sponsoring all these events at their tracks. They do a great job and, without them and the efforts of Central Park, we’d struggle to run these open-class dogs, so competitions like this are absolutely vital.”

For owner Evan Herbert, Desperado Dan’s Ladbrokes Gold Collar victory proved a special moment – especially to see his runner’s name included in one of the sport’s most prestigious and longstanding rolls of honour.

“It was fantastic and exciting – in fact, I didn’t manage to get much sleep Saturday night as the adrenaline was still flying round after Dan’s success!” he said.

“To own the winner of such a prestigious event with a history dating back to 1933 is indeed an honour and a tribute to an amazing greyhound such as Des (kennel name),” added Herbert.

“Many thanks to Patrick, Cheryl, Ria and Luke who, together with Ron Mills, have trained Des and kept him in tip-top condition since his arrival from Ireland following some very promising races at Youghal in which he showed his love of racing and determination to win.

“He’s kept that determination during his racing career. He’s never given less than 100 per cent and his strike-rate is top class. We’ll drop some goodies by at the kennels this week – chicken and cheese for all the team – and some steak for Des!

“He’s given us so many exciting times and hopefully he continues to enjoy his racing, so that he can carry on into the new year. I’ve been lucky enough to own some very good greyhounds over the years and Des is up there as one of the best.

“A big thank-you to Ladbrokes for sponsoring the Gold Collar, the Kent St Leger and all the supporting races on Saturday’s card. As owners we really appreciate and look forward to the big events and, when we buy our pups, we all dream of winning a few trophies over the years.

“A huge thank-you as well to RPGTV for all the coverage they provide to greyhound owners and enthusiasts all over the country. During these difficult times I don’t know where we’d be without them. They have a great team of presenters who, with their different personalities, combine to make it a great show.

“We now need to get through these difficult times and hopefully see all the stadiums open and the crowds returning.

“Every effort should also be made to ensure our current open-race programme continues and that all those competitions with such great history are maintained – and those which have been lost reinstated on the calendar. So many have been lost and, if our fabulous sport is to flourish again, we must have a thriving open-race scene.

“Graded racing is important to bookmakers, I see that. But a busy and well-programmed series of open races throughout the year is far more important and what owners are generally attracted to – and these are the greyhound enthusiasts who could lose interest if open races are not maintained.

“Desperado Dan is a star to us but also hopefully has a decent fan club amongst greyhound enthusiasts and open-race fans – and one man who I’d like to mention, especially, is the late Pete Vernon.

“He was with Patrick when Des first came over from Ireland and took him under his wing. I’m sure he was looking down when he won the Coronation Cup and again the Gold Collar. Thanks Pete.”

Results: www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=366922&raceId=680416