Greyhound Breeders Produce Stakes History

The Produce Stakes moved to Wembley in 1988 and the distance was increased to 490. From the start of the competition the leading fancy was a dog from the Nick Savva kennel WESTMEAD CLAIM one of the fastest dogs in training, British or Irish. WESTMEAD CLAIM had already won the consolation final of the Sussex Cup at Brighton. A time of 28.82, five spots outside the track record in his qualifying round , soon saw him promoted to ante-post favourite, but it was a young bitch from another famous kennel that was to prove victorious. DECOY REGAN LASS bred to get six bends with enough early pace to lead off second bend.
The first round opened with victory for the Frank Watson trained MERSEY BEI.LE, 7/4 fav. A member of a litter bred by I,iverpool fireman John Moran who was owner/trainer of heat six winner MERSEY GRIT, 8/1. The only dog to break 29.00 was WESTMEAD CLAIM 1/5 (28.85) when hacking up by 8¾ lengths. DECOY REGAN LASS 4/5 fav (29.29) easily won her heat by 5. 3¾ lengths. Third in heat seven was the Bristol Produce Stakes winner THE AEROPLANE 10/11.

The draw had kept the two leading fancies apart in the second round. Heat one went to DECOY REGAN LASS (29.21) in the fastest time of the round when landing odds of 1/4 by 6½ lengths. RIKASSO SILVER (29.40) took heat two from WINDSOR LAD, heat three went to THE AEROPLANE (29.41) from WINDSOR MILLER and the final heat was won by WESTMEAD CLAIM (1/6) who despite missing his break and being crowded at the first bend used all his track craft to catch WINDSOR BOY on the line.

The training feat of the second round was the three runner -up placing by the Bob Gilling trained litter mates WINDSOR LAD, WINDSOR MllLLER and WINDSO:R BOY (CREAMERY CROSS x WINDROW).

The third round draw again kept WESTMEAD CLAJM and DECOY REGAN LASS apart. The first semi saw trap two DECOY REGAN LASS 1/3 (29.24) lead early and run on from the third bend to reach the final unbeaten. The second semi saw WESTMEAD CLAIM back to his best, with THE AEROPLANE a non runner. WESTMEAD CLAIM was sent off the 1/7 fav. Fast away, always led and finished six lengths clear of WINDSOR MILLER.

The £10,000 final saw two unbeaten finalists DECOY REGAN LASS 11/4 easy to back from trap 1 and WESTMEAD CLAIM the 1/2fav from trap 4. WINDSOR LAD led to the first bend with DECOY REGAN LASS hugging the rails in second, WESTMEAD CLAIM was caught up in first bend trouble, DECOY REGAN LASS led from the second bend, although making a lot a ground from the second bend WESTMEAD CI,AIM went down by ¾ of a length.

The winner was sired by the great BALLYREGAN BOB out of DECOY LASSIE, a track record breaker over staying distances.

DECOY REGAN LASS showed consistency during the Produce Stakes, her winning times were all within eight spots from traps 2, 1, 2 and 2.

The consolation final was won by RIKASSO SILVER (FEARLESS CHAMP x KILFLYNN HIKER) 29.42.

Result of final

SEPTEMBER 86 D. Lucas 29.21