SIRDAR led home a one-two for Newcastle trainer John Flaherty in the final of the BGBF British Bred Maiden Derby Final over 480m at Newcastle – a feat which Liz Mort, chair of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum, said was thoroughly deserved given it was a third attempt at the competition for the near-senior performer.

“That was fantastic from Sirdar and I’m delighted for John and owner and breeder Michael Connolly. They thoroughly deserve the victory – and to get the first and second with a pair of half-brothers really was top notch,” said Mort, who was on hand to present the trophy for the £7,500-to-the-winner Category Two trophy at the Byker venue.

Going to traps, Blackhouse Zoom went off 11-8 favourite as one of three Stuart Ray-trained finalists along with Hurry Up Ivy and Blackhousewalton – and it was the latter who set the early tempo with a fast start securing a first-bead lead.

However, Sirdar was never far off the pace and powered down the back straight to take up the running round the third bend with the September 2021 son of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Tulip on his way to belatedly breaking his open-race duck.

For good measure, kennelmate and half-brother Greenbolt Bolt came through strongly for second to complete the Flaherty forecast. From an August 2023 batch by Burgess Bucks, Greenwell Bolt closed to within a neck of the winner, with early leader Blackhousewalton crossing the line in third. The winning time was 28.76sec (normal).

Mort said: “Sirdar’s perserverance certainly paid off! I read someone saying he’d got to the final three years running – so it was third time lucky, but they were wrong.

“In 2023 he got to the final, finishing third as a pup, but last year managed the semi-finals, albeit did finish third in his semi. So I suppose it was third time lucky, but no luck was required given he powered to the front and won well. And leading home a family one-two was the icing on the cake for connections.

“It was a great final and I’d like to congratulate connections of all the finalists and thank the team at Newcastle for another successful running of the competition. We’ve had some really nice winners at Newcastle and Sirdar’s story is a really good one.

“He’s gone through to grades at Newcastle and won A1s but remained an open-race maiden – until Thursday’s final. I’d say that’s perfect timing!”

The supporting card saw two £1,500-to-the-winners finals down for decision with victories for a pair of Jimmy Fenwick-trained runners in BresBet Gymcrack winner Elusivenomore (1-2F) in the Arena Racing Company Puppy Final and big-priced Velvet Black (20-1) in the Arena Racing Company Standard Final.

 

Photo credit: Ian Brindle