KEEFILL ROCKY landed a knockout blow on his rivals to post the fastest time in Sunday’s heats of the BGBF British Bred Derby kicked off over 500m at Sheffield.

In winning, Phil Milner’s home-bred also completed a littermate double after Holding Harry won the previous heat for Monmore’s Taberner – the pair from a September 2022 batch by Droopys Addition and Nah Then Bella, Milner having stood the sire at stud at his kennels for a period.

Lining up in heat four, 8-13 favourite Keefill Rocky blasted to a fastest-of-the-round 4.13sec sectional and never saw a rival, winning by a whopping 12 and three-quarter lengths from Romeo Jackson (Tom Heilbron) in a standard-setting 28.72sec (normal) for the one lap at the Owlerton venue.

The victory followed that of litter brother Holding Harry who landed an 18-1 surprise in heat three, coming through well to catch longtime leader Acomb Jonny (Kevin Ferguson) rounding the last bend for a length and a quarter success in 29.23sec (normal).

Patrick Janssens-trained runners landed a double in the first two heats, with Romeo Control kicking off the British-bred competition with a strong-running victory.

The 38-kilo October 2022 son of Romeo Recruit and Fabulous Verona was led early by British Breeders Stakes winner Acomb Felix Kevin Ferguson) but powered through on the run for home for a length and three-quarters success over that rival in 28.93sec (normal).

Kennelmate Romeo Steel then followed up his good showing in the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse at Nottingham with a battling effort to deny Keefill Goose (Phil Milner) in heat two, the winner crossing the line half a length in front in 28.88sec (normal).

Romeo Steel is an August 2022 son of Ballymac Cashout and Fabulous Amalfi, the dam a litter sister of superstar performers Romeo Magico and Fabulous Azurra.

“That was probably the race of the day,” said Andrew Mascarenhas, director of racing at the Owlerton venue. “Romeo Steel had shown great pace but Keefill Goose came to him big-time on the run-in and did get close – both ran really impressively.

“To be fair, Romeo Steel didn’t come away that well but his pace to the turn was awesome.

“They crowded behind I know, but fair play also to Keefill Rocky in winning the fourth heat. The way he drew right away will have satisfied connections given they bred him as well as train him and he looks a big player heading into the semis, of course.

“Well done also to Patrick Janssens for his double. His kennel are having a good end of 2024 and they’re having a say in another major competition here – and don’t forget they won the British Bred Derby in successive years with Fabulous Azurra in 2021 and 2022.”