King Memphis asserted himself as a leading contender for next year’s major honours with a stunning victory in the Coral Olympic Final at Hove on Saturday.
Contributing to an extraordinary end of the season for Liz McNair and the owning KSS Syndicate, the British-bred star clinched yet another Category One title for the owner-trainer combination, marking their fourth in a week in the £10,000 Hove showpiece.
King Memphis maintained a prominent position after a decent break, accelerating to the forefront and fending off significant challenges into the turn, particularly from Newinn Syd and later Hollow Man. He never allowed them to overtake, pushing on to secure glory.
Subsequently, the Puppy Derby winner secured a nearly two-length victory over Mark Wallis’s Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse champion Newinn Syd and the fast-finishing King Combs, a littermate of the winner, giving the McNairs a first and third place.
The Olympic Final shared the spotlight with another Category One event, the George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob Memorial over 740m, which was won in a brilliant front-running style by Seamus Cahill’s Droopys Clue.
The Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger champion took the lead and maintained a considerable advantage before the marathon star Over Smasher finished strongly, coming within four and a quarter lengths of the 44.45-second winner, who also claimed £10,000 for the connections.