SIGNET GOOFY, trained by John Mullins for Lee Calcutt and Chris Waters, is the Time Greyhound Nutrition Greyhound of the Month winner for January after his Blue Riband success at Towcester.
The now four-year-old British-bred narrowly led home Romeo Command, himself nominated for the award, in a thriller at the Northamptonshire venue to complete an unbeaten run through the famous Category One competition.
In winning the award, voted for by members of the Greyhound Writers’ Association and sponsored for the first time by Time Greyhound Nutrition, the greyhound feed supplier, Signet Goofy edged out not only Romeo Command but other major stars of the month Garfiney Blaze (Mark Wallis), Pape Di Oro (Savva Roberts), Romeo Cypher (David Mullins) and Roxys Bullet (Paul Burr).
Signet Goofy‘s victory in the Blue Riband at Towcester on Sunday was his second Category 1 final title. John Mullins’ brindle has appeared in six Cat. 1 finals in all, since finishing 3rd in the Produce Stakes at Swindon in September 2022.
Goofy stormed onto the scene when he reached the semi-final stage of the English Derby in June 2022, finishing 4th behind the eventual derby winner Romeo Magico.
He fulfilled his early promise when he secured the Bresbet Steel City Cup at Sheffield in October 2022 but he couldn’t quite follow up as he could only manage 5th in his next two finals. The first, was in the British Breeders Derby final in December 2022. The second was at Romford over 400m in the Coral Golden Sprint in March 2023.
With expectations high of another good run in the English Derby, Goofy made it to the third round and led the pack into the first bend, only to be caught in very strong heat which saw the highly fancied youngster Maree Champion go out of the competition and the eventual finalist Cochise only manage 3rd.
A drop in class to Cat.2 competition, saw Goofy recapture some of his earlier form. Victories in the British Bred Champion Stakes on Derby final night and then the British Bred Greyhound Stud Book Trophy in the Autumn of 2023 sent out all the right signals that Goofy was back to his best and up to competing with some of the best in Cat 1.
A run to the final of the BGBF Derby at Sheffield last December, where he would finish 3rd, was a prelude to the Blue Riband last weekend at Towcester.
In typical Goofy fashion, he pinged the lids and led into the first bend with the current track record holder and Derby runner-up, Romeo Command, in hot pursuit. As he loomed large in Goofy’s wing-mirrors, it looked for all the world that he would ease past him. But Goofy dug in deep. In a cracking buckle, he held on for the win. Perhaps another good run in the English Derby is on the cards this summer?
