Mark Wallis had a night to remember at the Coral Brighton & Hove Stadium on Saturday, securing an impressive double victory during the bustling pre-Christmas event on the south coast.
The spotlight first turned to Garfiney Blaze, who clinched the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial Final in dramatic fashion. The Ballymac Anton progeny added a second major triumph to his name this year, following his Arc Cesarewitch victory in January. Despite a tough challenge, Garfiney Blaze showcased incredible determination, edging past Droopys Flotilla, trained by Nathan Hunt, right at the finish line. The race was neck-and-neck, with Garfiney Blaze snatching victory by a short head in 43.92 seconds.
Wallis’s night got even better thanks to Proper Heiress, who capped off a stellar performance in the Coral Olympic Final over 515m. With kennelmate New Destiny also winning the Oxford bet365 Challenge Cup, Wallis’s team had the potential for a Category One treble. As the favourite, Proper Heiress proved her class from the start, maintaining a lead over Heather Dimmock’s Droopys Extragud, who delivered a career-best run. Despite the pressure, Proper Heiress stayed ahead, finishing a length and a quarter in front, with Patrick Janssens’s Barntick Bear securing third. The winning time of 29.49 seconds was the fastest in the competition.
Looking ahead, excitement builds with Nottingham hosting the semi-finals of the Arena Racing Company National Sprint on Monday, while Newcastle prepares for the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup semi-finals on Thursday.
Wallis’s commanding presence at Hove sets the stage for more thrilling action in the days to come, cementing his status as a force to be reckoned with in the greyhound racing world.