DOROTAS WILDCAT is the new English Greyhound Derby champion after a brilliant success in the Star Sports-sponsored event at a packed Towcester on Saturday.

Last year’s Select Stakes and Derby Plate champion, trained by Kevin Hutton and part-owned by the trainer and Dave Usher, saved his best exit for when it mattered most in the £175,000 decider as he led into the bend on his way to Classic glory.

His market rival Droopys Verve admirably gave chase having not quite hit the sand running, but the Angela Harrison-trained youngster could not get on terms with the winner who stayed on well to win by one and a half lengths in 28.85sec for the 500m.

Dorotas Vic, whose trainer Charlie Lister had conjured a 5.18sec split from his charge second only to his litter brother Dorotas Wildcat (5.15sec), kept on well to finish just a head behind Droopys Verve in third – the latter denying what would have been a famous litter-brother one-two.

A hugely popular winner, Dorotas Wildcat’s success drew warm applause from the packed grandstand and terraces – his supporters cheering another success for Hutton’s runner after the Derby Plate and Star Sports Shootout victories at Towcester last year.

“They love him here – but we love him too,” said Derby-winning trainer Hutton. “He’s been a star for us throughout his career and I’m just so proud of him and all the team, led of course by Donna (Witchells, partner). During a really tough time for us all, Wildcat has kept us going.”

Hutton, who watched the race unfold on a TV screen in the kennel block before joining the celebrations on track, was referring to the break-in at the kennels two weeks ago which saw five greyhounds taken. Four have since been recovered, but ‘Monkey’ (Jovial Monk) is still missing (Jovial Monlk was found in Bournemouth today).

“He’s in our thoughts all day, every day, but Wildcat has done something here which is a dream come true. To win the Derby is every trainer’s dream, and I’m no different. This makes all the hard work worthwhile, and it’s great to be in the Derby-winning ‘club’. That’s special.”

Hutton had tweeted a picture of Dorotas Wildcat in the kennels on the eve of the Star Sports Derby Final – he look relaxed on his bed! “And that’s the way he’s been throughout,” he added. “He’s matured so much and is more able to recover from tough positions.

“We know he’s not the greatest of trappers, but we worked on that. Martin Lanney, who has Wildcat’s sister Forest Natalee for us in Ireland and won the Oaks last year, came over and helped us out. We just tried something different, and it worked! He trapped great tonight.”

Hutton has pencilled in a defence of his Select Stakes title at Nottingham next month for Dorotas Wildcat. “He’ll have a short rest, then we’ll look for a trial at Nottingham and then the Select Stakes. It’d be fantastic to win that race again for him and this incredible litter.”

In addition to Dorotas Wildcat’s English Derby success and Forest Natalee’s Irish Oaks win, littermate Dorotas Woo Hoo won the Scottish Derby last year and Forest Con the Monmore Puppy Derby. “It’s the best litter I’ve been involved with, of course, and surely ranks as one of the best ever,” added Hutton.

Towcester MD Kevin Ackerman praised the winner and thanked staff at the Northamptonshire racecourse for their work in staging the world’s greatest greyhound race, commenting: “Dorotas Wildcat is just an absolute star, and we’re delighted for Kevin, Donna and all their team.

“We’re very proud Kevin is a Towcester trainer – it’s special for the track – and generally it’s been a very special night for greyhound racing. We had a really good crowd, and the atmosphere was terrific, even better than last year!

“This was just our second Derby and we’ll take stock, take further learnings and prepare for our third to make it bigger and better still!” added Ackerman.