Following a memorable 12 months and a haul of five Category One wins, the K.S.S. Syndicate are crowned Owner of the Year for the eighth time.
Led by Brendan Keogh and Simon Senyk, the syndicate amassed 830 points last year, finishing ahead of Dave Firmager (722.5 points) and Amanda Jeal (434) in 2022.
Their greyhounds, trained by Liz and Rab McNair from Ashford in Kent, collected the highest number of points based on a scale recognising the number of the competitions won, and finals reached.
Winners included Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic and Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes hero Warzone Tom, the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger heroine Havana Lover and the exciting RPGTV Cowley Puppy Collar and Coral Olympic winner Fromposttopillar.
Brendan Keogh said:
“It was some year. Frompostopillar was a highlight, and of course Havana Lover winning the St Leger was special for all of us.”
Looking back over the years, Brendan recalls being involved in Droopys Scholes but sold his share before he won the 2004 English Greyhound Derby. He won’t be making that mistake again, and Fromposttopillar already heads the market with most firms for this year’s Star Sports English Greyhound Derby.
Brendan added:
“We’ve plenty to look forward to this year. Half the job is keeping them sound and keeping the van driver (Rab) happy!”
Rab McNair commented:
“Every one of those winners means so much to us, because we put so much in. I didn’t think we’d ever win a Category One event in Romford – we’ve been trying for 20 years! And we’ve never won the St Leger either. Having the grandkids there on the night was extra special, they loved every minute.
“You just need the luck though, and hope everything falls into place. Fromposttopillar looks the real deal. He has plenty of ability and we are just taking it easy with him.”
Warzone Tom was the K.S.S. Syndicate’s highest scorer with 213 points and really hit his peak in October, landing the Champion Stakes at Romford in a thriller reeling in local runner Waste House Izzy. He roared to a runaway success in the semi-finals, setting a new track record in the process. This was Warzone Tom’s third Category One success of his career, adding to his Summer Stayers Classic victory at Monmore back in August, and the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket in 2021.
Havana Lover is as tough as they come and went unbeaten in the Premier Greyhound St Leger, scoring 143 points along the way. This daughter of Laughill Blake and Love Honey was headed early by Diane Henry’s Savana Ruinart. Grinding it out, she got the better of that rival on the run in, before holding off the late challenge of Savana Volcano to win by a length. Suffice to say that form looks solid, with both the Savana dogs going on to win the Ladbrokes Gold Collar and Cesarewitch at Crayford, making it a vintage year for the stayers Classic.
Fromposttopillar set pulses racing and tongues wagging throughout the months of October and December, and matched his kennelmate Warzone Tom with two Category One success, the RPGTV Cowley Puppy Collar and Coral Olympic at Hove. He picked up 127 points for his efforts and now heads the market for this year’s Star Sports English Greyhound Derby.
GBGB Racing Operations Executive Scott Harvey said:
“Congratulations to Brendan and Simon on another magnificent year. They put a lot into the sport, and this win again is thoroughly deserved.”
