79th Two-Year-Old British Bred Produce Stakes at Swindon

79th Two-Year-Old British Bred Produce Stakes at Swindon

Inaugurated in 1946 at Eastville Stadium in Bristol when it was known as the Western Two-Year Old Stakes the Two-Year-Old British Bred Produce Stakes is a long standing competition in the greyhound racing colander. 

In 1947 the competition was renamed as the Western Two-Year Old Produce Stakes. Following the closure of Bristol in 1997, the event moved to Swindon and has was run over the four-bend 480 metre trip from 1998 until 2019, with the distance then changed to 476 metres at the Blunsdon venue Swindon.

Previous notable winners include Fearless Ace in 1987, The Aeroplace in 1988 and Wolf Man in 1994. In 2006, all eyes were on strong staying Westmead Joe, who was trained by Nick Savva. In the semi-finals, Joe produced a flying finish to win by over four lengths in a track record 28.60 run. 

The bookmakers were taking no chances in the final and made him the 4/6 favourite. Westmead Joe turned fifth but was within striking distance, and it was race on. Off the final bend, Joe hit the front and powered clear to take the race by a length in 28.59 from kennelmate Westmead Olivia.

Bob Gilling presents the Produce Stakes trophies to Nick Savva and Bob Morton. Also pictured are Savva's head man Gary Slater (left) and Robert Morton. Photo: Steve Nash

In 2014 Take The Crown went unbeaten throughout the competition, winning the first-round, second-round, semi-final and final by a combined distance of 28 lengths. Sent off as the 2/5 favourite in the final, anyone that played the odds-on never had a moment's doubt as the February 2012 son of Westmead Hawk led round and kicked for home. Take The Crown took the final by six lengths in a flying 28.34 clock.

Take The Crown with Left to right: trainer Pat Rosney, Julie McCombe and owner Darren Price after the Swindon Produce Stakes Photo: Steve Nash

In 2019, King Sheeran lined up as the 4/6 favourite in the final and landed the £15,000 to the winner prize with a quick-away-made-all success for trainer Liz McNair. Kennelmates King Cash (T6), King Dylan (T2) and Queen Cher (T3) finished second, third and fourth respectively to record a one-two-three-four. 

Trap five - not a problem. A 1-2-3-4 in Swindon’s British Bred Produce Stakes Final for Liz and Rab McNair and the KSS Syndicate as King Sheeran (T5) leads home litter brothers King Cash, King Dylan, with Queen Cher in fourth. Swindon 27th July 2019. Photo: © Steve Nash

Last year, Southfield Poppy took the Category One event with a neck back to Union Rebel in second and a further half length to Southfield Petal in third to record a one-two-three for Kevin Hutton.

Southfield Poppy. 78th Two-Year-Old British Bred Produce Stakes winner at Swindon

79th Two-Year-Old British Bred Produce Stakes betting update

Following on from the first-round heats, let’s take a look at the outright market ahead of the second-round heats that take place on Saturday, September 6. 

The Patrick Janssens-trained pair, Romeo Alliance and Romeo Ability, both bolted up in the first-round heats and head the market at 4/6 and 5/2 for outright honours. The kennelmates clash in second of four heats on Saturday. 

Eagles Respect on offer at 10s with bet365 and Betfred as is Signet Nayla who caught the eye in in the first-round clocking 28.28 following a 3.99 sectional. Of those at bigger prices Inca Lewie is available at 25s with Ladbrokes and Coral while Izzys Tenpin is a 33s chance with the same bookmakers.

The semi-finals of the Category One competition will take place on Saturday, September 13 with the final a week later with £10,000 up for grabs.

· Final date: September 20, 2025

· Venue: Swindon Greyhound Stadium

· Distance: 476 meters

· Prize: £10,000 to the winner

79th Two-Year-Old British Bred Produce Stakes at Swindon second-round draw:

Speaking on the GBGB website, Liz Mort, chair of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum (BGBF), said: “This year’s Produce Stakes was always going to be special in terms of it being the last at Swindon. “It was good to see Romeo Ability follow up what he did so brilliantly at Nottingham when breaking the track record and I suppose he’s grabbed the spotlight from Alliance, although we know he’s a class sort and will come on for the heats anyway.’’

Speaking about the first-round heats, Liz Mort added: “It was nice to see five different trainers win the six heats and there’s some cracking litters on show.’’

Mort went on to say: “I’d like to pay special credit to Kevin Hutton. He’s won two of the last three Produce Stakes and is back again with another serious challenger with the very quick Signet Nayla – and good to see the Coppice prefix of Tony and Mary Brealey well represented in the second-round draw.

“Good luck to all the runners on Saturday seeking places in the semi-finals a week later.’’