FABULOUS AZURRA and No Rush served up a treat for racegoers at Oxford on Friday, producing a thrilling finish to the 2023 BGBF British Bred Oaks Final.

The Category Two competition had been dominated by the Patrick Janssens-trained Fabulous Azurra, the reigning champion and dual British Derby Derby winner, and the August 2019 daughter of Magical Bale and Fabulous Artist was duly sent off 2-5 favourite to claim gold in the £3,000 feature – and all looked set fair early.

The David Firmager-owned and bred runner was very quickly away and looked in command from the off, registering a slick 3.91sec sectional. However, Carol Weatherall’s No Rush was herself well away and soon in contention and kept up the pressure on the leader. The deficit was gradually worn down and the pair crossed the line together.

However, Fabulous Azurra had held on by a short-head from No Rush in 26.69sec (-10), with Singalong Stacey (Kevin Hutton) crossing the line in third.

Making the presentation at the Cowley venue, British Greyhound Breeders’ Forum (BGBF) chair Liz Mort, said: “Wow, what an exciting final for our British Bred Oaks this year – and what a great advert for British breeding, with two of the best bitches in the country battling it out for a photo-finish in the BGBF British Bred Oaks Final.

“One is a four-year-old (Fabulous Azurra) with still so much ability and desire to win, the other a three-year-old (No Rush) who has been knocking on the door of real success for some time now, but it’s well done once again to Fabulous Azurra.

“What a fantastic bitch she is. Her first win of 33 was back in January 2021. She’s won our BGBF Derby twice – in 2021 and 2022 – and last year she also won our Oaks at Henlow. Of course, ten days after winning the British Bred Derby at Sheffield in December 2022, she won the Winter Festival Bitch 525 at Shelbourne Park.

“By Magical Bale out of Fabulous Artist (who is by the Firmagers’ Romeo Recruit), Azurra is a litter sister of Romeo Magico, last year’s English Derby winner. Azurra herself reached the fourth round of the Derby at Towcester this year.

“It wasn’t easy, though. No Rush really made her work hard to keep her Oaks crown. Carol Weatherall’s charge is another great bitch, a winner of 13 opens, but just a touch unlucky when it comes to finals. She deserves to win something big, too, and is by British-bred King Elvis (2017 BGBF Derby winner) out of Vahsel Bay.

“All six in the final ran well, so congratulations to them and connections. Third place went to the youngest in the line-up in the shape of Gilbert Anderson’s December 20 Singalong Stacey (Droopys Sydney-Bull Run Byte), followed by Shockwave Amber (Droopys Sydney-Southoe Silver), winner of our British-bred Scurry this year and last year’s Oaks runner-up.

“Shockwave Wicca (Droopys Cain-Brinkleys Rosie) also did well to make the final and helped represent two good litters bred by Kim Gooding and Dan Wiepen, with the field completed by Flyhigh Artist, from a Pat C Sabbath-Headford Lacken litter, bred by John Million in Durham and owned by David Titterton.

“Our thanks to Kevin Boothby and the Oxford team for hosting the event. It’s the second time this year we’ve been at Oxford after our Puppy Cup in January and we’ll be back.

“This was one of our SIS-funded competitions, so enormous thanks to them, too. With their continued support, we are able to sponsor such a wide variety of competitions for British-breds, which has to be good for the sport.

“To me the Oaks is one of the most important competitions we can – and must – run. Seeing such quality for the next generation of dams gives us huge hope for the future. I know Fabulous Azurra will be heading to the breeding paddocks when she next comes in season – and hopefully that’s the case with all of them!

“There is plenty to look forward to.”