KILWEST RANGER became the latest greyhound to secure a first Category One success for his handler when winning the Arena Racing Company Laurels Final at Perry Barr on Saturday for Tony Harmes – with a pre-event conversation between the trainer and part-owner with the track’s racing manager Martin Seal proving key to the success.

Following wins in 2024 for Paul Burr (Roxys Bullet, Coral Essex Vase), Kevin Proctor (Front Alice, Coral Golden Sprint), Kevin Ferguson (Acomb Felix, British Breeders Forum Stakes) and Richard Wales (Farneys Willie, Arc Grand Prix), it was the turn of Harmes to join the big-race winners’ club as Kilwest Ranger landed a popular local victory.

An October 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Sanjose, from a good Divilly-family litter which includes Irish Oaks and Empress Stakes winner Crafty Shivoo, Kilwest Ranger had been purchased by Harmes and part-owner John McGrath after an Irish career which had included wins in a Galway stake – including a best there of 28.79sec – and form behind the likes of Towcester Derby-bound De Lahdedah at Shelbourne Park.

However, after a setback in early trials, Kilwest Ranger only made his English debut in a Perry Barr graded sprint, winning a D2 before following up in open class over the same 275m trip. Later stepped up in distance for a trial stakes for the Arena Racing Company Laurels, Saturday’s £12,500 final was only his fourth four-bend race in the UK.

A good trap-to-line winner of his semi-final, Kilwest Ranger effectively repeated the dose in the decider as a fast start outside secured a first-bend lead which he never looked likely to relinquish before coming home two and a half lengths clear of the always-handy Jet Stream Angel (Kevin Hutton) and Brickwork Ruck (Phil Barlow) in 28.38sec (-10).

Winning trainer Harmes had enjoyed success as an owner with Pat Rosney, including winning the 2016 Trafalgar Cup at Monmore with Charity Dragon and with Swift Luscious, the 2017 Oaks runner-up at Belle Vue, but Saturday’s success was his first major triumph as a handler – and the Pall Mall at Oxford looks a likely target for his star.

Perry Barr racing manager Martin Seal was delighted to see a local runner strike in one of the Birmingham track’s major competitions and always felt Kilwest Ranger was capable.

He said: “Tony spoke to me after Kilwest Ranger had been beaten by Darley Diglake in a Laurels trial stakes and before the entries were due to close for the event proper. He was a touch despondent, to be honest, wondering if he’d be flying a bit high by entering his runner in the (Arena Racing Company) Laurels.

“I said to Tony that it was no disgrace to be beaten by Darley Diglake, who has been very hard to beat round Perry Barr, and that if a dog (Kilwest Ranger) can do 16.06sec and 28.41sec at the Barr, then he can run a bit! I thought he was well worth his place in the Laurels and I’m delighted to see the guys triumph – they’re great lads – Tony, John and Chris Stokes, who I understand had a lot to do with the initial purchase of the dog.”

Chris Black, Perry Barr general manager, said: “It was a great turn out for a fantastic competition and we were all thrilled to see one of our local trainers winning the big race on the night and Kilwest Ranger certainly did his connections proud.

“The whole evening went well. We had Darrell Williams and Rob Crawford here taking us through the action on the night – setting the scene and keeping people informed. We’re always looking for ways to improve the experience of our customers and the exposure of the stadium – and, of course, the sport itself.”