DOROTAS VIC, a brother of last year’s champion Dorotas Woo Hoo, roared into the final of the RPGTV Scottish Derby at Shawfield with a brilliant and strong-running success in the second semi-final on Saturday and now aims to give Charlie Lister an incredible eighth success in the £20,000 decider on Saturday.

The May 2015 son of Ballymac Vic and Droopys Daneel was always handy on the outside before powering to the front to catch Pat Rosney’s The Other Reg to win by three-quarters of a length from the rallying runner-up in a fastest-of-the-night 29.28sec for the 500m at the Glasgow venue – and again has trap six in this weekend’s decider.

Lister said of the runner owned by Paul Brown, Jamie Naylor, Tony Clarke and Luke Thornley:

“He’s running Shawfield really well, and I was delighted with him – especially for the owners and the lads at the kennel. Pat’s dog (Rosney, The Other Reg) is a good dog so to beat him I thought was a good effort after being led.

“We know the litter has lots of quality, but Vic was slower to come to hand. He wasn’t particularly forward as a pup, but has matured and is running as well now than at any time. Of course you need luck in a Derby final, but it’s great to be part of it. I’m not sure I’ll make it there myself Saturday, but he’ll have plenty of support there.

“Our dogs have always been well received by the Shawfield crowd and it’d be nice to win especially after his brother (Dorotas Woo Hoo) won for us last year. It’s been an up and down week for myself and Pat – we lost one of our pet terriers Twiggy – but Tania has a new younger mate to look after now! That’s put a smile back on our face.”

Lister will once again be joined in a Derby final line-up by Mark Wallis, whose Black Farren won the third semi-final in front-running style as last year’s Irish Derby runner-up made another Derby decider when leading home Lightfoot King. It means Elaine Parker has two runners in Saturday’s final after Dropzone chased home his Irish conquerer Borna Account (29.41sec) in the first semi.

The latter’s trainer Pat Buckley is a previous winner of the Scottish Derby with Cabra Cool in 2009, while Pat Rosney (The Other Reg) won with Swift Hoffman in 2015. Victory for Black Farren would be a first Scottish Derby victory for champion trainer Wallis, and he is happy with the way the three-year-old is shaping up.

“He’s getting better with each run,” said Wallis. “The week between semi-final and final gives us another week to work with him. He’d been off a long while but is coming forward with each week and run. I thought he battled well in this semi, although I’d have preferred trap one for him. Lightfoot King (trap one) comes off the fence, so he’ll need to trap well.

“All that said, he’s a good breaker on his day and we’re hoping he times it right. Over the years we’ve not had too many entries at Shawfield, but went with a team this year. Bruisers Bullet and Bombers Bullet were together in their semi, and unfortunately went out, but both seem to be okay and will be looking at Towcester for them, as well as Black Farren and a few others.

“Win or lose, we’ll have a good many people there supporting Black Farren. He’s probably got the biggest team of owners I’ve ever had for a dog – and I’ve got a share myself! The others are John and James Wright, Paul Ephremsen, Brian Usher, Terry Coveney, Dave Lawrence, Nic Cheeseman, Scott Fraser, Martin Johnstone, Phil Bird, Paul Soanes, Matt Cushion and Dean Morris.

“I reckon a good night is in store whatever happens. Derby finals are always great and the atmosphere at Shawfield is very special,” added Wallis.

Saturday’s final:-

1 Lightfoot King, 2 Black Farren, 3 Borna Account, 4 The Other Reg (m), Dropzone (m), 6 Dorotas Vic (w).