SIS/Star Sports Stewards Cup final

SIS/Star Sports Stewards Cup final

Kim Sanzone, head of greyhound racing operations at sponsors Star Sports, has hailed a big week for the firm ahead of Saturday's final of the Star Sports Stewards Cup at Star Pelaw, seven days on from the final of the Welsh Derby at Valley. 

The Stewards Cup, the former Wathamstow event revived at the north east venue and upgraded to Category One status this year, will become the first Cat One staged at the north-east and Sanzone expects another busy and enjoyable night there - as was the case in South Wales last week for the first Welsh Derby since the late 1970s, said Sanzone.

"It really was a good night, incredibly well attended with a real buzz about the place. You felt the community had really come together in support of the track and its family values and importance in the local area.

"I was told there were a lot of new faces, further demonstrating the strength of feeling regarding the ban.

"Senedd members Catherine Cullen and Cai Parry-Jones were very encouraged by the evening and both saw what makes the track tick and how well run it is.

"They had a full tour of the kennels and facilities and were able to witness how the dogs are checked on arrival and before and after their races.

"The whole evening had a positive vibe and I didn't hear a single negative comment from anyone. This was a community working together to support their greyhound family."

Runner-by-runner guide

The first Category One event to be run at Star Pelaw has produced a strong final six, which includes the 2025 winner of the competition when it was a Category Two.

1 - The Other Chief - Phil Milner - Mr G O'Mahoney - 3/1

Showed some very smart form over four bends earlier on in the year. He was two and a half lengths behind Scooby The Lady in the Arc Kent Plate semis at Central Park, he was a Derby Plate semi-finalist and then finished three lengths behind Strike It Skye in a Derby night invitational. Won his heat before doing well to make it through from the back in his semi. Unquestionably has the talent to win this but the red jacket has not seen him trap particularly well in prior attempts. 

2 - Aero Pepinillo - Richie Taberner - Aero Racing Syndicate - 25/1

Winner of his semi-final, he has taken well to this sharp six-bend test. He has plenty of winning form at his home track of Monmore over 630m and had stretched out to 664m at Central Park but this shorter trip looks to suit him perfectly. Three times a Cat One semi-finalist, he makes it all the way for the first time. Needs more but the kennel are on a high after their recent Produce Stakes win. 

3 - Witton Gucci - Glenn Foot - Mr G Lynas - 1/1

Foot perfect through both this competition and at Star Pelaw in general, her semi-final win taking her record at this track to 6/6. Her 35.71 success a week ago ties her for the quickest time of the year so far over the 590m distance, and a draw inside of her main market danger in Droopys Bookem looks a plus. Has to trap out given there's plenty of early pace in here, but she is very much the one that they all have to beat. 

4 - Droopys Bookem - Tom Heilbron - Messrs Collins, Heilbron & Young - 9/4

One of two for Tom Heilbron, he was a close up third in the final of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers at Monmore back in August before just missing out by a short head on a place in the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger final. He is the class act and over most six bends, he would be the favourite to lift this prize, but his trapping is letting him down on this speedier track. Should still get himself involved though. 

5 - Rapido Benny - Ricky Holloway - Mr H Jakobsen - 10/1

Clocked a 35.71 in a trial stakes for this competition which ties him with Witton Gucci as the quickest of the year over this track and trip. He is not the strongest stayer over this far, so he is going to need to produce his best split and then hope for a bit of trouble behind him. He is more than capable enough but from a draw this wide, he is going to need an absolute smash break to figure. 

6 - Ballymac Sargie - Tom Heilbron - Mr M Walsh - 33/1

The sole seeded runner in the final is the defending champion. The veteran scored when it was a Category Two race last year and has done well to make his way through to the decider once more in 2026. The big positive for him is the draw with five railers inside of him, especially as Rapido Benny has plenty of early gears. Should get a lovely run around the outside, it's just a matter of whether he still has it in the legs. 

Conclusion

If Witton Gucci can show the same level of form in the final as she did in the heats and semis, she can go around on the inside of Rapido Benny at the first bend and outstay him. Getting first run on Droopys Bookem and The Other Chief is going to be crucial for her, but the two outsiders can't be discounted either in a cracking race. Aero Pepinillo won his semi and with the 2025 winner Ballymac Sargie being the sole seeded runner, he could easily be overpriced.   

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