LAUTARO ensured a sensational start to the 2022 Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby at Towcester on Thursday with a track-record breaking run as part of a Patrick Janssens-trained four-timer on the night.

The February 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Boom Time had been a precocious talent when winning over debut at the Northamptonshire venue last November and has always been highly regarded by his trainer and connections – and a brilliant trap-to-line victory in heat six of the £175,000 Classic vindicated that confidence.

Well away and always in command, Lautaro raced to a 4.07sec split before crossing the line five and a half lengths clear of Irish raider Ballymore Border (Owen McKenna). The winning time for the 500m was 28.84sec (normal), just less than two lengths off Sporting Chile’s 28.99sec previous best set the week before.

Winning trainer Janssens, who won the first two heats of the night with Aussie Captain (28.82sec) and Bockos Belly (29.36sec) to begin the Derby as he ended the 2021 running having sent out Thorn Falcon to win 12 months previously, before sending out Deelish Frankie (29.53sec) to win heat five, was naturally delighted.

Of his team, Janssens said: “I think Perry Barr for the Laurels really educated Lautaro. He’s just come forward since then and he’s shown tonight what we always knew he was capable of. He’s a special greyhound and hopefully can just keep on producing. He’s still learning in many way, but that was a great run.

“Aussie Captain is just a top greyhound. He’s won so many races and has so much early pace and really battles to keep the lead. He’s got stronger with age and, at Towcester, you need to get home. Bockos Belly is, for us, the real story of the round because we thought his career was over last year – it’s great to have him back.

“And I’m just delighted for the lads who own Deelish Frankie. They’re a great bunch and this still young dog is doing great for them. He’s still a pup but has a great strike-rate, won the Monmore Puppy Derby and is still improving.”

Ireland’s Da Bold Freddie, a Kirby Memorial semi-finalist and a litter brother of Deelish Franki, was an impressive winner on the night for Peter Cronin as the youngster was quickly into stride (4.08sec sectional) and was never headed as he crossed the line seven and a quarter lengths clear of Dapper Rodney (Nathan Hunt) in 29.23sec.

Another Irish star Skywalker Barry also sparkled in winning heat eight as this multiple big-race winner impressed when soon leading (4.04sec sectional). Winner of the RCETS Gold Cup at Shelbourne in February, Michael O’Donovan’s runner held compatriot Ballymac Fairone (Liam Dowling), a finalist last year, to the line to the win in 29.09sec.

The other heats were won by Tom Heilbron’s Newcastle Puppy Derby runner-up Innfield Trojan (29.91sec), James Turner’s ex-Irish Spinosaurus (29.42sec) on UK debut, Gary Griffiths’ Magical Duke (29.42sec), off the back of a fast 4.08sec sectional, and the John Mullins-trained British-bred sprint winner Signet Goofy (29.36sec).

 

STAR SPORTS/TRC ENGLISH GREYHOUND DERBY

Towcester

Second round: Friday, May 27 & Saturday, May 28

Third round: Saturday, June 4

Quarter-finals: Saturday, June 11

Semi-finals: Saturday, June 18

Final: Saturday, June 25