SLICK SAKINA completed an unbeaten run through the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks at Perry Barr on Thursday to land Patrick Janssens a first victory in the bitches’ Classic.

The July 2020 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Ring had been paw-perfect on route to the final and went off favourite to maintain her unbeaten run in the £20,000-to-the-winner event – and made no mistake as the lids opened for the 480m contest.

Racing to a 3.39sec sectional, the Keith Allsop-owned tracker was never in danger as she led at the first bend and raced away to win by four and a half lengths from Belinda’s Green’s Bonjour Bullet with Barrie Draper’s Distant Emma in third.

The winning time was 27.85sec (normal), which stood as a track record for the 480m trip until kennelmate Coolavanny Shado (27.77sec) improved the mark still further in a later supporting contest to cap a great night for the Janssens kennel.

Westwell Emer crossed the line in fourth for Kevin Hutton ahead of two other Patrick Janssens-trained runners in Global Prima and Fabulous Azurra who had given the former champion trainer three runners in an Oaks final, a notable achievement.

What was also notable was the fact that Slick Sakina lined up for the Classic as a maiden in the UK, a point not lost on a delighted owner Allsop, who also enjoyed the distinction of now winning the Oaks and Derby as a part-owner of 2021 Derby winner Thorn Falcon.

Allsop said of Slick Sakina, who made her debut on Trainers’ Judgement Night at Monmore in April, before further races at the Wolverhampton venue, Romford and in a prep race for the Oaks at Perry Barr, that her early pace had been attractive.

He explained: “Patrick (Janssens) alerted me to Sakina after she won an unraced bitch stake at Newbridge. Her acceleration from the boxes was phenomenal, so we purchased her for good money with breeding in mind – but hopeful for a good track career!

“I suppose the rest is history now and she was fantastic throughout the Oaks and thanks to  the track for their hospitality and to the sponsors.

“All the dogs I’ve owned, apart from a couple, have carried the Slick prefix and this result means the world to me. I know I’ve won the Derby, but this was different.

“I fully believed she would win from the opening round and I backed her at 25-1 to do so. Usually I don’t get nervous before a race but the night before I was a wreck, because I’d told anyone who’d listen this bitch was the real deal and would win!

“I told Steve Nash (photographer) when she ran there at Perry Barr in a prep race for the Oaks – it was actually the Pat Rosney Retirement Stakes – to get me a nice photo of her because Sakina was special. He reminded me of that on Thursday – it worked out well!”

Martin Seal, Perry Barr racing manager, congratulated Slick Sakina and connections for winning the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks on a night the £20,000 Classic shared the stage with the Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup Final.

He said: “It was a magnificent performance from Slick Sakina on the night, but pretty much followed up her brilliant efforts through the event. Well done to all.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/greyhound-profile/?greyhoundId=604551