Aayamza Sydney delivered a statement performance at Crayford, recording the fastest time of the night in heat four of the Jay & Kay Coach Tours Gold Collar. This victory further bolsters his record of major finals appearances, including reaching this very event’s final last year.
Fresh from his Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes final at Romford, the John Mullins-trained powerhouse made an impressive move in heat four, taking the lead before the halfway mark and pulling ahead to win by nearly six lengths, clocking 33.56 seconds over the 540m distance. Not far behind, Monmore’s contender Bangon The Clock, trained by Richie Taberner, secured heat six with a commanding win in 33.58 seconds, just a fraction slower than Aayamza Sydney.
The competition, a Category One event that Laughil Jess claimed last year, began with a win from local contender Moaning Rossi in heat one. Liz McNair’s Queen Georgia led initially but couldn’t fend off Darren Whitton’s Moaning Rossi, who surged forward at the penultimate turn, finishing nearly four lengths ahead in 33.81 seconds.
Nathan Hunt also had a strong showing, securing two heat victories. His Oaks runner-up Icemans Girl finished strongly to overtake Slick Sabo in heat two with a time of 33.78 seconds, while Allowdale Cazoo took the lead early in heat five, edging out Wrighty with a 33.60-second finish.
In heat three, Tony Welch’s Savana Moo led from start to finish, clocking 33.84 seconds to defeat Ballymac King. Meanwhile, in the Ladbrokes Grand National qualifiers, Ricky Holloway's kennel dominated with Patterdale Zorro clocking 23.51 seconds in heat three. Holloway’s other runners, Harlequin Ernie and Signet Harper, each won their heats in 23.58 seconds, ensuring places in the semifinals. Barry O’Sullivan’s Traceys Sydney won the final heat with a 23.55-second finish.
The semifinals for both the Jay & Kay Coach Tours Gold Collar and Ladbrokes Grand National are scheduled for next Sunday at Crayford.