Romeo Command retired after Derby campaign

Romeo Command retired after Derby campaign

Romeo Command, one of the most popular greyhounds in training over the last few years, has been retired following his elimination from the StarSports/TRC Greyhound Derby at the second round stage, having finished fourth behind Bockos Diamond.

Trainer Patrick Janssens this morning said “He was a very popular dog, and there will be some straws taken from him before he goes back to Dave Firmager. But he’s had a fantastic career, finishing second in the 2023 Derby behind Gaytime Nemo, then to win the BGBF Champion Stakes Final on Derby Final night last year after being off with a broken hock was just brilliant, but to then go on and win the Eclipse in November just showed what an exceptional greyhound he was for us”

A January 21 whelp out of Dorotas Wildcat x Drive On Betsy, Romeo Command joined the Janssens kennel in November 2022 following an unsuccessful spell in Ireland, where he won only one of his eleven starts, albeit he was rarely beaten far and faced good opposition

But he burst onto the scene in the UK at Monmore on November 19th when winning a heat of a maiden competition in 27.82, the fastest time recorded for the 480m distance in 2022, some feat for a puppy on debut.

Having won the final the week after, Romeo Command then headed to Towcester for the RPGTV English Puppy Derby, and having landed both first and second round as well as the semi-final with the minimum of fuss, he was well fancied to keep his unbeaten run going in the final. Unfortunately, the final had to be abandoned due to a forced hare stoppage, with Ian Fortune writing that “the competition had been cursed from the outset with dreadful weather, trap malfunctions and a forced hare stoppage in the decider after a couple of fallers”

Having been left off until March, Romeo Command started his 2023 campaign in fine style with his winning run continuing to nine when going unbeaten at Nottingham to land the Final of the BGBF British Breeders Stakes Final, securing the £12,500 prize without seriously being troubled at any stage.

The winning run ended there though as he could only finish runner behind the Dave Mullins-trained Arkady in the RPGTV Juvenile at Towcester in April.

But at this point, he was aimed at the StarSports/TRC Greyhound Derby and having won his first four starts in the competition. Including a sensational eight and a half length winner in 28.75 at the third round stage, he then finished runner-up at the semi-final stage behind Graham Holland’s Swords Rex. He lined up in the final the following week where he again finished a creditable runner-up behind another Graham Holland runner Gaytime Nemo, who had made all the running to land the honours.

His next appearance came in August when finishing third in the Jenningsbet Select Stakes behind yet another Graham Holland runner, this time it was Clona Duke but following a few one off victories at Towcester, he headed to Central Park in October

Having won a minor two round competition beforehand, he lined up in the Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby Final having finished third and second in both heat and semi-final, but again, found one too good in the final itself when Richard Rees’s Chuchfield Syd made all the running.

November ended with defeat at the semi-final stage of the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse at Nottingham but on December 31, he produced a sensational performance in a one off race at Towcester, recording a new track record in a time of 28.64

January 2024 started off in winning fashion, when landing both heat and semi-final of the Blue Riband at Towcester but was again second in the final, when narrowly beaten by the John Mullins trained Signet Goofy.

Unfortunately, due to a hock injury, Romeo Command was off the track until May but after a few trials, he exited the StarSports/TRC Greyhound Derby in the first round, though compensation was to await connections just a few weeks later on Derby Final night when winning the BGBF Truframe Champion Stakes Final and the £3,000 prize

July saw him reaching another Category One Final when he lined up in the Coral Sussex Cup decider having won his heat and semi-final, but early trouble put paid to his chances when finishing fourth behind Derek Knight’s Newinn Benni

Having finished last in the Jenningsbet Select Stakes at Nottingham behind Pat Buckley’s Unanimouspanther in August, he just failed to qualify for the final of the Yorkshire Derby at Doncaster in September, but enjoyed better luck in October when landing the Category Two BGBF Greyhound Stud Book Trophy at Towcester.

His last big race competition victory then followed in November at Nottingham. Despite a first round defeat to Proper Heiress, Romeo Command then secured victory in the semi-final and beat kennelmate Slick Sentinel in the final of the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse to take the £20,000 prize.

Another Category One final was reached in January 2025 but could only finish third behind Table Toppers in the Greyhound Racing UK Blue Riband Final at Towcester, and after a few one off victories at Hove and Towcester, he then finished runner-up in another Category One Final at Nottingham in March, this time in the BGBF British Breeders Stakes behind ex-kennelmate Romeo Control.

His last action came in this year’s StarSports/TRC Greyhound Derby, and having finished third in the first round behind kennelmate Slick Sentinel, he was eliminated at the second round stage by Bockos Diamond

In all, Romeo Command competed in 67 races in the UK, winning 41 of those, with a win percentage of 61.19%, an outstanding achievement for a greyhound that has spent his career competing at the highest level.