Queen Joni secured victory in the Arena Racing Company Kent Plate Final at Central Park on Saturday, ensuring Liz McNair retained the trophy at home.
Following Fromposttopillar's triumph in the inaugural Category One competition last year, another KSS-owned runner, the blue-jacketed Queen Joni, clinched the £12,500 prize for the McNair team. Among the four McNair-trained finalists, Queen Joni emerged as the victor for the second consecutive year.
At the start, kennelmate King Memphis was the favored contender, breaking swiftly. However, Queen Joni matched his pace, leading to a head-to-head battle into the turn. Meanwhile, King Capaldi, Memphis's brother, veered inside, causing Queen Shakira and Droopys Reserve to face obstruction.
With Queen Joni and King Memphis dominating the race after the second bend, Queen Joni held the advantage with the inner track, extending her lead as they entered the back-straight.
Despite King Memphis's persistent pursuit, Queen Joni, the Produce Stakes and British Bred Derby champion, maintained her momentum, crossing the finish line one and a half lengths ahead. This secured a McNair-trained one-two, with Mark Wallis's Whyaye Man finishing a distant third.
Queen Joni's swift victory, clocking at 28.91 seconds, showcased her prowess as a top-tier competition greyhound, being the offspring of Droopys Sydney.