Romeo Tomcat bagged a second Category One triumph of his career on Monday evening with a convincing win in the 43rd renewal of the £12,500 BGBF British Breeders Stakes.
Patrick Janssens’ kennel star was running for only the third time since November as Nottingham hosted the first of its four Category One finals at the Colwick Park venue this year.
But that didn’t prevent a standout performance as the son of Fabulous Spirit made all to beat Angie Kibble’s Eagles Respect by three-and-a-half lengths, with kennel mate Romeo Empire a further two lengths behind in third.
The performance doubled Romeo Tomcat’s Category One successes after he scooped the Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby at Central Park back in October.
His owner David Firmager is now firmly eyeing a tilt at the English Greyhound Derby this summer, and was thrilled with the outcome of Monday’s feature race.
“He broke a bit better tonight for his third run back after a couple of months off,” said Dave.
“He’s improved with the racing, and clocked the fastest time of the competition – so we’re very pleased and it’s full steam ahead for the Derby now.
“He had to work hard for it. Eagles Respect is a strong six-bend runner and chased him hard, it was a good performance.
“He’s collected a few trophies now, and we’d hope to add to that through the year. The big target is the Derby, me and Patrick will catch up and make a plan.”
Kelly Hodson’s Romeo Force finished fourth, while favourite Romeo Ability was fifth and Fabulous Heka sixth.
Tomcat’s Category One win wasn’t the only success for the Janssens-Firmager combination on the night. A race earlier, Romeo Steel – winner of the Steel City Cup – scooped the £1,500 BGBF British Bred Midlands Sprint Trophy, priced 1-7.
Other local Open Race successes on the night came courtesy of Jason Gray’s Deelish Denzel who won the ARC Maiden Standard Trophy.
And Esther Driver rounded off the card with a quickfire double when Hopes Ompaloompa and No Better Feelin won the ARC Standard Trophy and ARC Standard Trophy Final respectively.
Greyhound racing continues at Nottingham Stadium on Monday and Friday evenings through the year. The track is hosting a Family Race Day on Good Friday with limited free admission tickets available to reserve online via www.nottingham-greyhounds.co.uk.
