SIGNET DENVER landed his second GBGB Category One title when dominating Sunday’s 76th British Bred Two-Year-Old Produce Stakes Final at Swindon.

 

Having first equalled the track record in the second round before setting new best figures for the 476m trip at the Blunsdon venue in the semi-finals, [Arc] Laurels champion Signet Denver was again at his best in the £13,000 decider to land his trainer and breeder Kevin Hutton a first Produce Stakes at his former home venue.

 

Owned by Tony Brealey, the January 2020 son of Magical Bale and Forest Natalee was one of five members of the same litter to contest the British-bred showpiece – an incredible feat from Hutton, who trained all bar Signet Goofy (John Mullins). Carol Weatherall’s No Rush completed the field.

 

Quickly away on his way to a fastest-of-event 3.88sec sectional, Signet Denver chopped off litter brother and former track record holder Signet Otis at the bend before going on score readily by five and a half lengths from littermates Westwell Emer for a Kevin Hutton-trained one-two, with Signet Goofy back in third for a litter one-two-three.

 

The winning time was 27.70sec (+20), remarkably just one spot off his own track record set seven days previously.

 

Congratulating Team Hutton at the presentation was Liz Mort, chair of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum, who said: “What another great night for British breeding – and what a fantastic final.

 

“Signet Denver shot out of the traps like a bullet and there was absolutely no catching him – what a greyhound! But how amazing that five from the same litter got through to the final. You’d think this reflects a poor year for British breeding, but quite the contrary. Yes, in the wake of Covid numbers were not as high as some years, but this is quite an exceptional litter bred, of course, by Kevin Hutton.

 

“They are by the Westwell Racing Club’s Magical Bale out of Kevin’s amazing super-brood Forest Natalee. In the first round one of the litter Signet Otis clocked 27.75sec for a new track record, then in the second round both he and brother Denver equalled that time. Then in the semis Signet Denver broke it again with a brilliant 27.69sec – and he went close again in the final. 

 

“Well done to the Westwell Racing Club’s Westwell Emer for a fine second, with Signet Goofy, owned by Chris Waters and Lee Calcutt and trained by John Mullins, in third.  

 

“Congratulations to the connections of all the finalists, which includes fourth-placed No Rush, the only one not part of the Bale-Natalee family. She is by King Elvis out of Vahsel Bay, bred by Martin White and Barney Mooney in Shropshire, and trained by Carol Weatherall for Callum and John Purdy.

 

“No Rush was the youngest in the line-up with only 12 races under her belt, albeit including in the BGBF Maiden Derby Final at Newcastle in May.

 

“All the finalists have plenty to look forward to, as we have with the next Forest Natalee pups. There’s a July 21 litter by Confident Rankin coming along soon, while in April she had a batch by Droopys Sydney – currently being reared in John Mullins’ paddocks.

 

“Thanks to the team at Swindon for staging the Produce Stakes again. It isn’t the easiest of competitions to run, so all credit to their Sue Warren who deals with all the various entry stages.

 

“It will be interesting to see the entry levels next year as in 2021 and 2022 the litter stage entry has been free and done automatically when we register litters with the Stud Book, so hopefully this will prevent breeders realising they’ve  forgotten to enter their litters in time! 

 

“It was also good to see Swindon looking very upbeat for the future with plans for a new grandstand, securing the future of this great venue.”

 

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=389478&raceId=876232