ROMEO STEEL roared to victory in Sunday’s BresBet Steel City Cup Final at Sheffield to land his second Category One victory and complete a fantastic weekend for Patrick Janssens after Romeo Tomcat’s Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby triumph at Central Park the night before.

Lining up as one of three British-bred finalists in the Owlerton Stadium showpiece along with kennelmate Romeo Ability and Kelly Hodson’s Romeo Missile – all three bred by Dave Firmager – the Firmager-owned pair of Romeo Steel and Romeo Ability filled the first two places from the get-go, both coming away well – the eventual winner particularly sharp.

Unleashing a superb burst of pace to the first bend, the Click Competitions East Anglian Greyhound Derby winner was soon in full flow and on his way to adding the Sheffield title to his Yarmouth success, and those at Towcester in the BGBF Truframe Champion Stakes on Derby final night and Nottingham in the BGBF British Bred Midlands Sprint Trophy.

Clear off the second bend from the chasing Romeo Ability, market rival Chelms Bear, who had sensationally broken the track record in the semi-finals, was now in top gear but was a long way adrift of the leaders after a moderate exit and, while closing with every stride, Romeo Steel always had enough in hand as they swung into the home-straight.

Crossing the line three-quarters of a length in front of the keeping-on Swindon Produce Stakes runner-up Romeo Ability, with Chelms Bear just a half a length back in third, the £11,500 first prize headed the way of the August 2022 son of Ballymac Cashout and Fabulous Amalfi, a real star of the Janssens camp.

Add track records at Yarmouth and Nottingham to his CV and Romeo Steel is a very worthy addition to the famous Steel City Cup roll of honour, believes Andrew Mascarenhas, Sheffield’s director of racing.

He said: “Romeo Steel completed an unbeaten run through this year’s BresBet Steel City Cup and justified the decision of the sponsor’s traders to install him as ante-post favourite.

“I thought overall it was a great competition. Chelms Bear’s track record in the semis was breathtaking, but he just left himself too much to do in the final.

“Romeo Steel was quickly into stride and established a handy lead over Romeo Ability and battled on well to the line to keep his kennelmate and Chelms Bear at bay.

“It certainly capped a good weekend for Team Janssens and owner David Firmager with two Cat One winners.

“Thanks go to BresBet for their sponsorship this year of both the Gymcrack and the Steel City Cup and to the connections of all the entries which made it a high quality and enthralling renewal of a famous race.”