FABULOUS AZURRA made it six out of six at the Owlerton venue on Tuesday when successfully defending her BGBF British Bred Derby title at Sheffield.

 

Maintaining her unbeaten record at the track in the £10,000 contest, the brilliant Patrick Janssens-trained runner added to victories in the Bet365 Empress Stakes at Towcester and BGBF Oaks at Henlow to complete a clean sweep of the major British-bred events for breeders and owners Dave and Nicola Firmager.

 

Soon handy despite early scrimmaging, Fabulous Azurra paced up to challenge leader Signet Otis for the lead at the turn and was soon in command thereafter.

 

Racing away as the field crowded in behind – sadly Signet Denver (Kevin Hutton) broke down here – the three-year-old was away and on her way to a famous victory. Never headed thereafter the August 2019 daughter of Magical Bale and Fabulous Artist crossed the line four lengths clear of Kevin Ferguson’s youngster Acomb Alfie in 28.50sec (normal).

 

Winning trainer Patrick Janssens first wished Signet Otis a speedy recovery, before commenting: “Lucy’s an absolute star. To go through two British Bred Derbys unbeaten is very special indeed and well done once again to David and Nicola Firmager who do a great job in breeding and rearing these greyhounds. We’re delighted.”

 

BGBF chair Liz Mort added: “It was a fabulous victory from a Fabulous bitch – she’s just brilliant. She didn’t make her best start, but got in front before the first bend, and the race was soon over as Lucy the took control and won comfortably in the end.

 

“Enormous congratulations to breeder David Firmager and to trainer Patrick Janssens. He’s slightly superstitious about going to finals with his dogs if he didn’t go to the first round with them, so was again represented by his daughter Ria.

 

“Fabulous Azurra is, of course, a litter sister of Derby champion Romeo Magico and could have a catch-up with her brother very soon as she’s booked to go over to Shelbourne Park for the Winter Racing Festival at the end of next week to run in the Bitch 525.

 

“Incidentally, John Mullins, who was represented in the final with the unlucky-in-running Signet Goofy, is also off to Dublin with his runner, along with kennelmate Ballymac Slapup.

 

“Congratulations to all the BGBF British Bred Derby finalists and their connections.

 

“Second placed went to Acomb Alfie, the one pup in the line-up. He doesn’t turn two until March next year, so I really hope we’ll see him in our BGBF British Bred Puppy Cup at Oxford next month. He’s one of a litter of six resulting from a repeat mating Hiya Butt x Acomb Ruby and, if they all perform as well as that first litter, then Kevin Ferguson will deservedly be very proud of them. Alfie’s certainly started well!

 

“A bonus on the night was Sheffield’s running the final of their BGBF Graded Series – run as a handicap. The winner was Nah Then Molly, who came with a late run to grab the trophy. By Droopys Sydney out of Nah Then Bella and bred by John Marriott, litter-brother Fearsome Rocket was third for John, with the Ben Lewis-bred and Phil Sanderson-trained Gracie Brae between them in second in a tight finish.

 

“Of course, all of us wish Signet Denver a speedy recovery. Bred by Kevin Hutton and trained by him for Tony Brealey, Denver won this year’s Produce Stakes at Swindon, the Laurels at Perry Barr and the BGBF Greyhound Stud Book Trophy at Towcester. He suffered a broken hock in the final which has very sadly ended his brilliant career, but Kev has told me he’s comfortable and will make a full recovery in time and, good news for breeders, will have a second career as a stud dog.

 

“On behalf of the BGBF I would like to thank the team at Sheffield who always do a great job putting on our British Bred Derby. There is always a great atmosphere there and the track replacement carried out in the summer looks absolutely fantastic and, even more importantly, performs perfectly.

 

“We are now looking forward to 2023. We held a very productive committee meeting before racing at Sheffield on Tuesday, followed by an AGM, and the minutes will be up on our website very soon, along with our plans for British-bred open racing next year.”

 

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=392217&raceId=898666