Wallis delighted with weekend wins from kennel stars

Photo - Gary Garner

Campaign set out for the Central Park track record holder

Proper Heiress delighted Mark Wallis in making a winning return to the track in Saturday's heats of the Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby - with a track record run the icing on the cake.

"We knew he was well," said the champion trainer. "His trials told us that - especially the Towcester one when he did 26.10 for the 460m trip. I know it's a new trip, but that was something else. He flew round. So then to do 28.30 at Central Park was just great and shows you how well he is. 

"He's turned four now - in fact Saturday was his first race as a senior - but he doesn't have many miles on the clock.

"I tend to keep most of my dogs for competitions, as opposed to one-offs, unless we're preparing for an event, and that's been the case with Harry," added Wallis of the six-time Category One winner.

"He got to the Derby semis but wasn't really firing. We had one or two issues with him during the event and he wasn't at his best towards the end of the Derby, so I said we'd give him three months off and see where we're at. Both myself and Mike (Davis, MWD Partnership) have agreed that if his form dropped off again he'd be retired, but hopefully Saturday shows we're not quite there yet.

"I said before Saturday he had a maximum of nine races left - that's three competitions at the most. So the Kent Derby, the Eclipse, and the Olympic - but only if we were happy with him. And were he to win one of them - and make it seven Cat One wins, which I think is a record, maybe that'll be it.

"It really is race by race with him, but a track record already is not a bad start to the end if you like!"

Wallis also had news of Strike It Skye, who also posted the fastest time of the night on Saturday in the heats of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks at Dunstall Park.

"I also thought she'd run well," said Wallis on the Derby Consolation's 27.94 heat success. "She's been kept fresh for this and when they're fresh they tend to show more early. We know she's a class act and really strong - and if the Oaks was won on the quickest solo trial she'd likely win it.

"She'll need to come from off the pace in her races there - but I'm sure she can. That was a great battle with Graham's (Holland) bitch (Fahrenheit Jess) and hopefully she gets a chance to show again what she can do this week and onwards.

"I still look back on the Derby semis when she was so unlucky not to qualify and make the final, but thankfully then came out to win the Derby Consolation.

"She'll be put over six bends at some point. It might have been the Champion Stakes at Romford had things not worked out for her at the weekend, but it will likely happen soon."

Stitched Pockets, who looks an exciting stayer in the making, has come in season and will likely not reappear on track until the new year. 

The Mark Wallis-trained youngster, a January 2025 daughter of Drumatine and Ma Mac, has made a real splash in just three races in the UK

Purchased after a 29.53sec Tralee success and with just three starts in Ireland on her card, the youngster has caught the eye with powerful finishes in each of her UK races at Towcester over 500m.

Her 28.90sec off-the-pace victory last month was particularly impressive.