AVONGATE VENUS produced a sensational performance to equal the 500m track record at Towcester with victory in the second semi-final of the Bet365 Empress Stakes Final at the Northamptonshire track on Sunday – with Phil Milner’s cracking and in-form bitch now eyeing an incredible nine-timer in this weekend’s £10,000 final.

Beaten just once at Towcester back in June, ironically behind last year’s Empress Stakes winner Crafty Shivoo, her form since has been exemplary with a string of victories at Doncaster and Towcester – but Sunday’s victory was her best with a joint-best ever time at the track in a high-class field for the Empress Stakes semis.

Lining up against Category One winners New Destiny (Mark Wallis) and Queen Georgia (Liz McNair), Avongate Venus trapped well with a superb 3.95sec split setting up a healthy early lead over Queen Georgia and the January 2022 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Ring never looked likely to be caught thereafter.

New Destiny, representing last year’s winning kennel, showed smart middle speed to take second down the back but the winner had flown and crossed the line three and a quarter lengths clear in 28.52sec (+20), matching Barntick Bear’s track record for the one-lap at the home of the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby.

“That was a massive run – what a girl she is!” said trainer Milner. “I was at the airport flying back from Germany for work reasons and watched the race online – I was getting a few odd looks I can tell you!

“I’ve got to give huge credit to Keeley (Cunningham, partner and assistant) and her dad who do everything at home when I’m on the road. She’s got Venus spot-on and bouncing.

“Chloe Waite, who parades her and helps us a bit at home, is the owner Sean O’Connor’s grand daughter so, for Sean, it’s been a dream story and for Chloe to be involved makes it even more special. Also a big thanks to her breeder Rory Hickey of the Avongate Kennels in Kilkenny.

“To equal the track record at the Derby track is some achievement but we’re taking nothing for granted in terms of the final. It’s a great final and she’s going to have to be foot-perfect again, but is fantastic to be part of it and a great boost for the kennel.”

Droopys Eunice, a finalist in the both the Arc Northern Puppy Derby at Newcastle and Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby at Monmore, roared back to winning ways in the first semi-final as Maxine Locke’s July 2022 daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Charm landed her second start post-season in superb style.

Led from the boxes by fast-starting Fabulous Terra (Patrick Janssens) and Greencroft Carla (Stephen Rayner), the Romford bitch showed great early pace and, railing into the lead off the second bend, soon stretched her rivals out and, while coming back to her field, held on by three-quarters of a length from Fabulous Terra in 29.01sec (+20).

The David Elcock-trained Urlee Star and Icemans Girl (Nathan Hunt) secured their places in Sunday’s Category One decider in the third semi-final, with the former, an Aug 2022 daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Vale Recruit again finishing fast to reel in Icemans Girl close home for a head success in 29.01sec (+20) for the 500m trip.

Trap draw for Sunday’s Bet365 Empress Stakes Final: 1 New Destiny, 2 Droopys Eunice, 3 Icemans Girl, 4 Urlee Star, 5 Fabulous Terra, 6 Avongate Venus (m).