DISTANT EMMA landed Barrie Draper a record fourth victory in the event when scoring a brilliant win in the Time Greyhound Nutrition 3 Steps To Victory Final at Sheffield.

The tri-distance competition, with a new sponsor this year and with a £10,000 first prize, remains a unique event in the GBGB Calendar with heats over 480m, the semi-finals over 500m, and the final over 660m – and Distant Emma showed equal amounts of speed and stamina to grab glory at the Owlerton Stadium.

Led from the boxes by Crossfield Cora, Distant Emma moved into contention quickly and kept the pressure on the leader, coming to challenge for the lead at the base of the back straight second time, only to be crowded out as Mark Wallis’s bitch held her line and the advantage gamely.

However, Distant Emma, an October 2020 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Distant Lucy and litter sister of the Drapers’ Derby entry Distant Podge, came again to challenge and pass Crossfield Cora on the run for home for a length and three-quarter success in 38.95sec (+30).

Clairekeith Remy (Carl Gardiner) finished well after early scrimmaging to be just a length further back in third, but victory was Distant Emma’s as the two-year-old added to Draper-trained victories in the 3 Steps To Victory with Farloe Hack (2004), Ballymac Eske (2014) and Bull Run Button (2019).

It means the Sheffield handler is most successful trainer in the event’s history and his daughter and assistant trainer Rose Draper was delighted afterwards when speaking to Sheffield’s social media man Rob Crawford, commenting: “I thought it was over when she was chopped off at the fifth bend, but she came back for more.

“Emma’s got a great future. This was a big Cat One final and we’re delighted to win it.”

Owner Peter Band added: “She’s really battled hard tonight and it’s fantastic to win. She’s always been in our heart because Ballymac Eske is her grandfather, so this means a lot in the racing world to us. I’d like to thank the sponsors Time Greyhound Nutrition for backing the race, to Team Draper, and to Shaun Flaherty for breeding her.”

William Rigney of Time Greyhound Nutrition, sponsors of the big race, said: “Congratulations to Barrie and his team – and Distant Emma’s performance in winning was right out of the top drawer. It was a local victory, so was pretty popular, and just capped a fantastic night at the track.

“We’re in the midst of the English Greyhound Derby and it was great to be involved in the supporting graded races across the three nights of the first round and we’re sponsoring a £3,000 race on final night over 712m at Towcester.

“Our super-premium racing food is called Time ‘Record Breaker’ and Graham Holland clearly read the script, which Swords Rex breaking the track record in the Derby trial stake, followed by Clona Duke breaking the track record in the first round!

“Our thanks to the Sheffield management, in particular Andrew Mascarenhas, and we are delighted to be associated with such a fantastic and unique competition.”

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=397613&raceId=942535