Ahead of the first round of the Property 192 2020 English Oaks, champion trainer Kevin Hutton discusses the importance of the bitches’ Classic, his team for this year and what a third consecutive win would mean for him and his kennel.

“The English Oaks is without doubt my favourite competition in the racing diary and, with the exception of the Derby, it is our biggest race. It is a very special competition for us and to win it for the third year running would be incredible. We are, however, certainly up against a strong field this year. 

For the Oaks to have found a home at Swindon is terrific. With it being only a half an hour drive from our kennels, we consider it to be our ‘home’ track. I’ve pretty much grown up at the stadium as a kennel hand before training there for nine years before Towcester opened. In my opinion, it has one of the very best running tracks in the country too. 

Our first Oaks win was in 2013 with the wonderful Droopys Danneel and it was a memorable night. It was a breakthrough year for our kennel with Airport Captain winning our first Category One race and Screen Critic making it to the Derby Final. To cap it all off with our first-ever Classic win really was the icing on the cake. As well as being an impressive athlete in her own right, Droopys Danneel was a very special bitch for us as she went on to throw our Derby-winner Dorotas Wildcat. 

Our 2018 Oaks win was another great year for our kennel as we had both the winner and the runner up in the final. Our superstar Ravenswood Flo is now retired with her owner Stephen Harvey and is thoroughly enjoying life on the sofa. She is just the most wonderful girl and, as ever, it is great to see her getting the retirement she deserves after giving us so many brilliant memories on the track.

Flo enjoying her retirement 

Our runner up from the 2018 Oaks, Magical Vera, is back on our team for the competition this year. It is her third attempt at the Oaks and, win or lose, it will be her final campaign for us. She’s a terrific bitch who won last year’s Angel of the North at Newcastle in style. We had fancied her for the Oaks title last year but she was unlucky. We have our fingers crossed for her this year – it certainly would be a fitting end to her career. 

Magical Vera will be staying with us at the kennel as she is certainly not one we can say goodbye to easily. She is a greyhound who always surprises me by how she comes alive on the track, given how laid back – bordering on lazy – she is at home. And all being well, we hope to have a litter from her. It is a bloodline that is very dear to us as her dam, Sizzling Sarah, was also mother to our star Magical Bale.

Magical Vera

We have a team of six for the Oaks this year, which is much smaller than the 15 we bought last year, but no less exciting. As well as Magical Vera, we have Magical Firebird who is making her debut for us in the Oaks. It is a big ask for her but we’ve been really impressed with the way she has improved through her trials. We also have Galloping Moon, who won the Brighton Belle at Hove last year. She is an impressive bitch who has always run against top-class greyhounds but has never shown her best form at Swindon.

Galloping Moon at home

We are also bringing Signet Storm from our 2017 Irish Oak’s winning bitch Forest Natalee. Again, she has flown through the grades at Monmore and is a wonderful breaker with lots of pace. Given the way she has so rapidly improved I am sure that we have not seen the best from her yet. 

Finally, we have Lights Out and Chubbys Dubh. Lights Out reached the final of the Produce Stakes at Swindon this year and has good form over distance. I believe she is about 50/1 at the moment so, out of all of our team, she’s the best value as we begin the competition. Chubbys Dubh continues to improve and, given some experience, she is another runner who may have the potential to surprise us. 

As our premier bitches competition, the Oaks is significant in regards to promoting and supporting British breeding. I feel strongly that quality British-breeding flows from the availability of these competitions to enter and, at present, I don’t think there are nearly enough. As well as encouraging owners to buy bitches, a strong calendar of competitions would mean that more trainers here would consider having home-bred litters which, in my books, is only a good thing. 

On that note, we are starting to see our first home-bred puppies on the track. Our whole team has thoroughly enjoyed the experience of having the pups here. There is nothing more rewarding than watching a greyhound you have cared for from Day One begin racing and showing their potential. We have high hopes for them all and cannot wait to see them progress. 

It is safe to say the excitement is growing amongst our owners ahead of the first round tomorrow and we did all we could to keep them regularly updated throughout the latest lockdown. We were all delighted to hear that Oaks Sponsor Colin Davey has made an amazing gesture for each of the kennelhands in the final too. They are so often overlooked and I know first hand just how hard they work caring for our greyhounds. For a sponsor to come forward not only with the winner’s prize money and £5,000 for the trainer but with £1,000 for each kennelhand on top is fantastic. 

Of course, winning the Oaks this year would certainly be the greatest Christmas present we could wish for. Win or lose, for our kennel, our owners, as well as greyhound fans throughout the country, watching the 2020 Oaks will be a wonderful end to a tough year.” 

Galloping Moon