ROMEO CYPHER set a new track record on his way to lifting the BGBF British Bred Puppy Cup Final at Oxford on Saturday.

Trained by David Mullins for owner and breeder David Firmager, the February 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Fabulous Skylar had finished third to kennelmate Romeo Crusade in last year’s Coral Romford Puppy Cup as a raw youngster but lined up in the weekend’s £10,000 decider as one of the more experienced runners.

Quickly away and crucially getting first run on market rival Keefill Maverick for Phil Milner, Romeo Cypher was in full flow down the back and always held sway over the runner-up, crossing the line two and three-quarter lengths clear of the Sheffield raider in 26.47sec (+10), a new best time for the 450m trip.

Third place went to Keefill Goose, a littermate of Keefill Maverick, also trained by Millner, but victory in the Category One British-bred feature was Romeo Cypher’s, much to the delight of his Romford-based handler David Mullins.

He said: “He had to do things right given Keefill Maverick is such a good dog, but thankfully he has and it’s great for him to win a big one.

“He finished third to his brother Crusade in the Puppy Cup, who was always just a bit more in front of him at that stage, but Cypher’s come on a lot – so that’s why we were so disappointed when he was beaten in the heats. He actually led then but ran quite flat after and we’re just lucky it was the first four qualifying – he finished fourth!

“Rhianne (daughter and kennelhand) said he wasn’t himself at the pick-up and sensed something was wrong. He’d not shown anything in particular, but took a couple of days to recover so maybe he was just a touch off-colour – it can happen.

“Come the semi-finals he was bouncing so we expected a lot better and he’s gone off the front and not come back – and thankfully it was the same come the final, and kick-started a pretty good weekend for us and the litter as a whole.

“His brother Romeo Crusade won at Towcester, as did his sister Fabulous Terra, so you can’t really ask for more and I’m delighted they’ve developed as we hoped they would. Dave and Nicola (Firmager) were away for the final but watched the races at both Oxford and Towcester – so they were happy breeders and owners as well!

“We’ve had a chat and Romeo Cypher and another litter brother Romeo Firebrand will now trial at Monmore with the (Ladbrokes) Winter Derby there a strong possibility.”