British Performance of the Week

Untold Paanga– Rose Bowl finalist

Anyone who knows Mark Wallis will understand how he loved nothing more than winning a Category One final with a souped-up grader. But it seems only just that the quietly modest multi times champion trainer should now have, courtesy of the MWD Partnership, his most potent racing strength ever. 

However, as he approaches his personal century of Cat One winners (Imperial Kennels is already viewing that achievement in the rearview mirror), he seems like a man in a bit of a rush.

New Destiny’s win in the ARC Grand Prix at Sunderland is the kennel’s fifth ‘Cat One’ of the year and her career fourth (Coronation Stakes, Champion Stakes, Bet365 Challenge). It was also Mark’s fifth win in the event following ’06-January Tiger, ’11-Blonde Fletch, ’18-Bombers Bullet and ’23 Coonough Crow. (‘The mother-in-law’ Linda Jones won it with ‘03-Special Trick and ’04-Ronnies Flight). 

The 38.79 run for the 640m is added to her clocks over 575m at Romford and 650m at Oxford.

Meanwhile, at Monmore, kennelmate Mongys Wild landed a 684m open by a more than a second. The TV Trophy winner made it nine UK wins from ten outings. The sole defeat coming over course and distance when Deadly Disco clocked 40.94. Surprisingly, although Wild’s win was four spots quicker, it was done on what was rated faster going. With the Wallis runner seeming to endorse the veracity of the form, it will be interesting to see Richard Rees’ runner back over six bends at some stage.

On Sunday it was the turn of yet another MWD kennelmate as dual Cat One winner Proper Heiress landed the prestigious invitation, the Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile at Towcester. In doing so, erased a doubt about his ability to run the track that was born out of a last place in the Blue Riband Final. Only Droopys Plunge has gone quicker this year, twice, and by five spots. All Heiress has to do now is overcome the Derby curse that is forever attached to the Juvenile winner! Incidentally, the support card included a FOY sprint for Broadway Murty (15.54).

At Oxford the previous evening, Heiress’s sister Hogans Hawk made full use of her rails draw to land the Bet365 Hunt Cup. With 7/4 favourite Ballymac Madgie left flat footed in the traps, the 15/8 second favourite took full advantage of her positioning and secured a first ever win in the event for trainer Seamus Cahill. A shout out too for the desperately unlucky Alright Patricia who was beaten two and half lengths having lost at least eight in running.

Back at Seamus’ home track Hove, Queen Shakira went quickest of the three Brighton Belle winners with a 30.37 run (515m). But we are sticking with youngster Headford Asher. Maxine Locke’s August pup who clocked 29.22 (500) on debut, chipped off one spot with the fastest time of the week. Given he was unraced in Ireland with a single sprint trial on his card, the black must rate as highly as any in the kennel already bristling with juvenile talent.  

Team Wallis were out of luck in the Laurels final with Armagh Daiithy back in fifth. Though there was still a huge kennel connection with the final going to Aayamza Sydney, a son of Wallis’ former Regency and Dorando Marathon winner Aayamza Breeze. John Mullins’ Laurels star, who set the 480m clock of 27.75 in the heats ran the third fastest time ever over course and distance in the final, 27.78. (Ex-record holder Coolavanny Shado sits between the two on 27.77). The latest score in the Mullins family Laurels competition now stands at Linda 3 – John 1. The big race support card included fastest times of the year over their respective distances for the Wallis duo Ballinakill Liam (275m-15.86) and Ballymac Taylor (710m-42.85).

In most circumstances, a Cat One win is practically a guarantee of selection. But with the best will in the world, Elusivenomore’s 29.36 win in the Bretsbet Gymcrack Final at Sheffield has to come under the banner of ‘opportunist’. So we are going with the 28.69 run of Romeo Steel in a supporting open. Patrick Janssens blue was already the fastest over course and distance this year with a 28.56 run.

Not much between the two most impressive Friday night open race winners at Romford. The selection is the fastest Rose Bowl heat winner Untold Paanga who completed a local double when clocking 34.93 for the six bend course. A mention too for Michelle Brown’s Tomohawk. He was never spotted in his first three visits to the track but a couple of ‘runs on the bunny’ in the Maiden Derby at Towcester seem to have worked wonders and his 23.67 for the 400m gets him inside the top ten runs of the year.

On the same night and 20 Essex miles away, Gothic Volumnia continued to impress. Sharon Saberton’s brindle pup was left flat footed in a competitive A4 but came from last to first to record the second fastest time of the year for the 415m, 26.39. Only kennelmate Gothic Icon (26.35) has gone quicker.

Mossrich Karen’s reign as the fastest sprinter over Nottingham’s 255m trip this year lasted just a fortnight. It now belongs to Simon Deakin’s Transfusion following a 14.86 run. His fifth win in his last 10 races. The last hound to go quicker was Quarteira (14.85) back in 2023. A mention too for Jetstream Breeze who overcame hassle in running to give a start and beating to Sambar Kian. The winning time of 29.80 for 500m was eight lengths slower than his FOY, though five lengths of the deficit was down to going variations.

Newinn Bliss’s 28.26 Swindon open win was arguably usurped by a cracking A1 featuring Baggios Intent (Best 28.00) who started as the 5/4f with Brighton Belle finalist Southfield Daisy next best at 100/30. But both would find one too good in Cul Na Braithre who got up on the line to beat Daisy by a head in 28.18. In terms of times though, both were bettered by A2 winner Ashway June with a 28.13 run.

Three cracking A1s at Newcastle on Thursday. First up, the prolific Delvin Cat (28.49) followed by Velvet Black (28.47) and the quickest of the trio Naochra (28.33). Now with John Flaherty, having achieved plenty of success with Mick Connolly, his most recent success means the former Pelaw 25.52 winner remains unbeaten in his three comeback races having been off the track for seven months.

The shorter six bend trip has provided the last couple of selections at Central Park. That sequence was extended by Earls Poppy on Saturday night. Julie Luckhurst’s ex-Crayford A5 runner had shown plenty of stamina in her 491m races. Saturday’s 664m open was her six bend debut but the local punters had few doubts (8/13f) and she duly justified their faith with an eight length victory in 40.39. Only track record holder Garfiney Blaze (40.12) has gone faster this year.

Yarmouth’s Saturday opens made their switch to the evening fixture this weekend. In all honesty, they were moderate enough with no marked difference in quality between the middle distance open winners and Monday’s A1s. In fact, the quickest middle time was Murrow Inkosi’s 27.63 in A1. Pick of the Saturday night opens – admittedly on a slower track – was Bogger Cash with a 40.74 run.

At Valley, the Sunday afternoon card tends to feature the best racing. Not so this week with no open racing. The best, and quickest middle distance race of the week took place on Wednesday. It was a four runner A1 featuring the defending POW Quivers Rafa. But punters reckoned Mike Burton’s Ranchers Crybaby was a good odds-on bet and so she proved by a couple of lengths in 28.35.

Similarly, Doncaster’s best racing this week with the best racing saved for the Saturday lunchtime SIS fixture where Sportsmans Flash (29.76) won the quicker of the A1 races. But the best performance of the day came in the B1 won by Maximum Calibre. Kirsty Grayson’s 5/6fav hadn’t been spotted in Stainforth since before Christmas when he rattled off an A1/OR four timer. He looked backed to his best on this performance though with a 27.47 run, just 11 spots off Keefill Goose’s FOY.

Over in West Yorkshire, nothing jumped off the card this week despite the track running pretty slick. Quickest of the week was Bev Heaton’s Thursday evening A5 winner Tally Ho Rocket who clocked 28.12 (+20). A mention too for Peads Toe who completed an A5-A4-A3 hat-trick simply by being consistent: 28.31, 28.27, 28.26.

There would be a good case for making Bitzer Maloney the Star Pelaw selection based on his 14.38 sprint run on Sunday night which equalled the fastest clock this year. But in terms of a contest, we’ll stick with last week’s champ Tonelagee who beat a decent field that included Tromora Meg. The black’s last four calculated times over course and distance are: 25.76, 25.78, 25.75, 25.75.