We’ve been fortunate enough to have won some of the biggest prizes in our beloved sport but we finally landed one of the most coveted as Romeo Magico was crowned the Star Sports & TRC English Derby Champion!

Bred, reared and owned by David and Nicola Firmager, Badger as he is affectionately known, also gives them their first ever Derby success. You can read more about their journey in a recent article by The Greyhound Star.

Romeo Magico, the sixteenth Irish-trained winner of the English Derby, put on a phenomenal performance at a jam-packed Towcester to land the glory. Klldare, a superb tracker, flew into the turn to head the eager Mickeys Barret. Romeo Magico did, however, miss the break slightly and this was to his advantage as he had a clear run at the leaders into the bend. As Kildare kept a middle course around the first turns, Magico slipped onto the fence waiting to make his move, a gap appeared and it was the only invitation he needed as he showed immense pace to get up the rail before asserting at the head of affairs out the turn.

Romeo Magico cruised along out in front along the back straight to hold a three-quarters-of-a-length lead on the third turn to delight of the cheers from the crowd. Displaying his brilliant bend running again, around the final turns, he continued to stride effortlessly up the home straight before crossing the line a length and a half in front of the gallant runner-up, Kildare, to etch his name in the history books.

Having been so close, yet so far, in recent years with the likes of Ballydoyle Valor and Clares Rocket, it’s one of our greatest achievements as a family and team and one made all the more special to share with some very special owners in David and Nicola!