PATRICK JANSSENS continued his stellar season with a brace of British-bred successes as Doncaster hosted a major double-header at the weekend.

 

The Derby-winning trainer sent out Romeo Tomcat to win the Yorkshire Derby having less than 20 minutes earlier seen Romeo Empire win the one-off BGBF British Bred St Leger, both winners owned and bred by Dave Firmager.

 

Completing an unbeaten run through the Category Two event, in-form Romeo Tomcat landed a five-timer in the £8,000-to-the-winner Yorkshire Derby Final over 483m.

 

Bursting to the front rounding the second bend, the June 2023 son of Dorotas Wildcat and Fabulous Spirit never looked likely to be beaten from that point.

 

Racing away in good style, Romeo Tomcat posted a near four-length success over runner-up Scooby The Boss (Nathan Hunt) with the winner’s kennelmate Slick Sentinel back in third. The winning time was 29.10sec (+10).

 

The victory added to Romeo Tomcat’s PricedUp.Bet Derby Plate victory at Towcester on Derby Final night and made a good night for trainer Janssens even better.

 

His Romeo Empire – by Firmager’s English Derby-winning Romeo Magico out of Fabulous  Bella – had earlier landed a runaway success in the BGBF British Bred St Leger, helping his owner and breeder to a fourth straight win in the competition, reduced this year to a one-off event due to lack of entries.

 

After Romeo Riot’s 2022 success and then back-to-back wins for Fabulous Dyna in 2023 and last year, Premier Greyhound Racing Regency runner-up Romeo Empire made it four-in-a-row for Firmager in trap-to-line fashion.

 

Pacing up well, the 1-8 chance never looked in danger as he sped clear on his way to a five and three-quarter lengths victory over Snowfall (Phil Milner) in 41.69sec (+15) for the 661m trip, taking the £3,000 first prize in the process.

 

Liz Mort, chair of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum, congratulated Janssens and Firmager for their double success at Doncaster.

 

“It continues to be a brilliant year for Patrick and David,” said Mort. “Tomcat winning the Yorkshire Derby after a fourth consecutive win for the Firmagers in the British Bred St Leger topped off the night for them on a good night for British breeding. They prove over and again that British breeding is up there amongst the best in the world!

 

“Thank-you to Doncaster for hosting and to SIS for their continued support. It was unfortunate that due to various clashes we didn’t get heats of the St Leger but it’s important to celebrate the stayers among all that we offer for British breeders.

 

“I’d also like to thank all the breeders and trainers – and owners, of course – who do such an excellent job of rearing and training their pups and entering these BGBF competitions for British-breds.

“It’s going to be be a busy end of the year. We have the BGBF Stud Book Trophy at Towcester and possibly a new event at Pelaw, both Cat Twos, then of course our showpiece Cat One, the BGBF British Bred Derby, will be run at Sheffield in December.”