The defending champion Fear Zafonic, handled by Leading Trainer Charlie Lister, returned to Yarmouth last Saturday as anti post favourite for this year’s 64^th running of the Betfair Sponsored East Anglian Greyhound Derby. Fear Zafonic set the track and competition alight, by winning his heat in a new record time of 27.27 seconds for the 462 metre course.  

The previous record, 27.40 seconds, was set by Ninja Jamie, Fear Zafonic’s half brother, on winning the 62^nd Betfair East Anglian Derby Final back in 2008. Fear Zafonic’s form is all the more remarkable as he celebrates his fourth birthday in October, an age when many top class greyhounds start to lose that extra edge that can give them track records.

Having won his Heat and the Final of the Carling East Anglian Challenge in August, plus a Derby trial stakes, on Saturday Fear Zafonic extended his string of wins so far at Yarmouth this year to five. As the opposition hots up round by round, Fear Zafonic faces a strong test, as witnessed by the Role of Honour Board that shows the last greyhound to successfully defend his East Anglian Derby Title was Our Rufus, back in 1978/79.

Trainer Charlie Lister has three other qualifiers, Reluctant running in heat three with Fear Zafonic, plus last years runner up Jordansoilutions and Yahoo Jamie, drawn in heat four. Charlie Lister attempts to be the first trainer to win the event three years in succession,that would bring his tally of wins up to eleven.

Six Yarmouth based runners are through to the second round, but the draw has not been kind. Eye On The Flash, trained by Mark Wallis and Jane Craske’s Canary Delight are in heat one, heat two is even more difficult for the local runners as four feature, Glenske Bond, Newtown Diamond, Jackdaw Summer and Beaufort Bound, only the first three home in each heat qualify for next Saturday’s Semi Finals.

Other  runners to note are Ten Large Down trained by Diane Henry who was a leading fancy in the Wimbledon Derby. Zaheer ,Sparklee Bernie and Guiness Time who come from Seamus Cahill’s top Hove kennel with Chicago Prince representing David Pruhs’ Peterborough range who was only beaten by a short head by Fear Zafonic in the final of the East Anglian Challenge, the second round looks set for some really good racing.