QUEEN GEORGIA and Acomb Irene head into Sunday’s final of the Time Greyhound Nutrition 3 Steps To Victory at Sheffield as unbeaten runners in the tri-distance competition after impressive performances in last weekend’s semi-finals over 500m.
First up was the Liz McNair-trained Queen Georgia. Always in a good position during the first semi, she powered down the back straight to catch Noelles Milano (Jason Gray) rounding the final bends. The December 2021 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Queen Jessiej drew away for a four-and-a-quarter lengths success in 28.79sec (+10), with both making it through to the £10,000-to-the-winner decider.
The victory delighted Brendan Keogh of the owning KSS Syndicate, who believes this litter sister of kennel star Queen Joni is now making her own mark and could be a “six-bend superstar” ahead of her first attempt over the extended trip on Sunday. She has previously raced over Romford’s 575, making January’s Coral Essex Vase Final.
“She’s matured since then and is a far better bitch now,” said Keogh, whose son Ciaran oversaw the trip to Sheffield. “If you watch her to the pick-up, she’s not stopping and is obviously running the track really well. We feel Georgia could be a six-bend superstar and she’ll definitely be at Sheffield this weekend – not Towcester!”
Keogh was referring to an entry the two-year-old held in the Star Sports/TRC English Derby, from which she was withdrawn yesterday. “That was just in case she was knocked out in the semi-finals, but she’s there’s with every chance. We’re happy enough with trap two, although we know it’s a good final with lots of speed around her and plenty of stamina in the field, too.”
Acomb Irene also followed up her trap-to-line 480m heat win with a victory over the extended four-bend trip in Sunday’s semi-finals. She made all in the second semi in 28.83sec (+10) off the back of a fast start as the March 2021 daughter of Hiya Butt and Acomb Ruby again dominated.
Always in control, the Kevin Ferguson-owned, bred, and trained runner crossed the line a length and a half clear of Savana Heross (Diane Henry) and will now have just her third six-bend start after runs at Sheffield and Doncaster in 2022. Runner-up Savana Heross is more familiar with the distance as the Queen Mother Cup champion at Owlerton, with form over even longer distances.
The third semi-final went to last year’s 3 Steps To Victory third Clairekeith Remy. The Carl Gardiner-trained Hove raider reaffirmed his liking for the South Yorkshire venue with a display of early pace, turning in front and securing a length and a half success over Monmore’s Millridge Tanic (Chris Fereday) in 29.00sec (+10).
Trap draw for Sunday’s Time Greyhound Nutrition 3 Steps To Victory Final: 1. Savana Heross, 2. Queen Georgia, 3. Noelles Milano, 4. Clairekeith Remy, 5. Acomb Irene (m), 6. Millridge Tanic (w).
Trainers with runners on Sunday’s Time Greyhound Nutrition 3 Steps To Victory card at Sheffield have been invited by the big-race sponsors to join them in the track’s executive boxes before and during the meeting.
Andrew Mascarenhas, director of racing at Owlerton Stadium, said: “A note has been circulated to trainers here with an offer to either enjoy their pre-meeting meal as normal in the bar area or to join Time in one of the executive boxes that have been provided for the afternoon.
“Our thanks, of course, go to Willie and Shane (Rigney) and to John (Fox) for their continued support of one of the major competitions we stage here at Sheffield. The 3 Steps really has a unique presence in the GBGB Calendar with its tri-distance format, and we’re set for another fantastic final on Sunday.”
Time Greyhound Nutrition’s Willie Rigney added: “Congratulations to the connections of our six finalists on Sunday. It’s going to be a great race and intriguing now as we step up to six bends for the final from four. That’s the beauty of the 3 Steps.
“And as Andrew (Mascarenhas) has said, we’re inviting trainers with runners at the meeting up to the boxes throughout the day. Come and say hello. Myself, Shane, and John will be there to welcome you – and many thanks to Sheffield for giving us the opportunity and space to do so.”