In a remarkable feat, Queen Beyonce, a new addition to the breeding scene, has clinched the title of Best Dam of British Bred for 2023. This accolade is attributed to her outstanding mating with Droopys Sydney, resulting in the birth of dual Cat One winner King Memphis and Cat One finalist King Capaldi.
The RPGTV Puppy Derby at Towcester witnessed the exceptional prowess of this litter, as three siblings contested the final, claiming an extraordinary one-two-three victory. King Memphis, trained by Liz McNair, led the pack, with brothers King Capaldi and King Combs securing the subsequent positions, leaving kennelmate Queen Dusty in fourth place.
King Memphis's stellar performance continued in the semi-finals, where he set a new track record for the 500m distance. He further validated his success by securing another Cat One title, the Coral Olympic over 515m at Hove, just five weeks later, under the ownership of the K.S.S Syndicate.
Following the RPGTV Puppy Derby, King Capaldi ventured to Sheffield for the BGBF British Bred Derby, reaching the final but withdrawing due to health concerns. Meanwhile, Queen Joni, another kennelmate, went on to claim victory in King Capaldi's absence.
Queen Beyonce, born in February 2017, is the daughter of Eden The Kid and Skate On. A formidable racer herself, she won the Sussex Puppy Trophy and reached the Star Sports English Greyhound Derby semi-finals in 2019. Retiring in January 2020 after a successful career with 18 wins from 27 races, her notable achievements include a 29.27-second run over the Derby distance and a 28.67-second clocking for Central Park’s then 480m.
The award-winning breeding success extends to Queen Beyonce's dam, Skate On, who secured the Best Dam of British Bred title for four consecutive years from 2017 to 2020. Eden The Kid, the sire, broke the track record at Wimbledon at just 21 months old.
Liz Mort, Chair of the British Greyhound Breeders’ Forum, expressed delight for Brendan Keogh and the K.S.S. Syndicate, along with Liz and Rab McNair. This victory marks their familiarity with the award, given that Queen Beyonce's dam, Skate On, had previously won it for four consecutive years.
Eden The Kid's lineage, with the influence of the great Westmead Hawk, showcases the success of British breeding, with early maturity being a distinctive trait inherited by the litter. Liz Mort anticipates further accomplishments from these talented greyhounds in the coming years. The second spot in the GBGB Best Dam of British Bred 2023 rankings was secured by Irish-bred Drive On Betsy, while Romeo Command and Savana Top Cat made significant contributions. Liz acknowledged David and Nicola Firmager for their role in Drive On Betsy's success, highlighting the achievements of Romeo Command, who won the BGBF British Breeders’ Stakes and finished second in the English Derby, setting a new track record at Towcester in 2023.