On 22 January 2021, Antigua Romeo won the first Category One final of the year and for Team Wallis it would prove a case of ‘FAw Al Led’
The kennel closed out the year on 1,346 points, their highest tally since 2016 (1,386) though the 2021 return was from 175 fewer runners.
It was the kennel’s 12th time at the top of the table in the 17 years that Mark has been training. Add in mum-in-law Linda Jones’ double and it was the 16th time in 21 years that the kennel at the end of the bumpiest drive in the forgotten end of Suffolk has dominated UK racing. No other trainer has ever won more than six titles.
In total in 2021, the kennel picked up six Category One wins, decent enough, but not exceptional.
Mark said: “We often get about six. A couple of times in the past we have managed seven. I think Charlie (Lister) managed eight or nine one year.
“If you look at the races overall, there wouldn’t have been a lot between us, Patrick (Janssens 987 pts), and Kevin (Hutton 897 pts) in terms of Cat One wins. We were all around the half dozen mark.
“What made it an exceptional year for the kennel was the number of Cat One finalists. I haven’t finished counting them, but I think we ended up with between 25-30. Whatever it is, I’m pretty sure it would be a record.”
As always, 90% of the points are won by just a handful of dogs and the kennel’s highest points scorer was kennel star, Aayamza Royale.
She retained her TV Trophy title in magnificent style at Monmore and won a memorable Regency at Hove.
Mark said: “The Monmore form was sensational. She broke the track record in 55.91 in the heats, broke it again in the semis and then did 55.00 in the final winning by 11 lengths off a 28.32 sectional.
“At Hove, running at a distance well short of her best, she came from last to first in the last 200 yards.”
It proved a very special night for the kennel, ‘Lydia’s win coming just quarter of an hour after Drumcrow Brent and Antigua Storm finished first and second in the Sussex Cup.
It was clearly one of the highlights of the year, and Mark wasn’t even there.
He said: “I left Daniel and Emily to do the Hove trip, I had a pile of runners at Monmore and had to watch Hove between races. But I was very proud at how it all went.
“It was a fabulous year for marathon runners, probably the best in my time in greyhound racing. Royale had some tremendous battles with the likes of Savana Volcano, Space Jet and Antigua Lava.
“I would hope she would be among the highest points scorers, though there would be several on 150 points plus including Thorn Falcon and Signet Ace.”
So is Royale an easy bitch to train?
“No not really” said Mark. “Although she doesn’t have any real injuries, she is getting older and the niggles are appearing. When I massage her, I invariably find a bit of tightness in her muscles. She is also a gannet who will put weight on just looking at food.
“She is a real character too though. A real diva. Like all the good ones she knows she is a bit special. She is kennelled with Antigua Socks and keeps him in his place. She can be a bit of a madam around the kennel in general, but I guess she thinks she has earned it.”
No greyhound has ever won three TV Trophies. But the veteran has Hove on her agenda for her third attempt.
Mark said: “We might look at Towester Marathon in March but if the TV Trophy wasn’t at either Monmore or Hove, she would probably have retired already. I would imagine that if she does make the final, it would be her last race anyway.”
So who fills the void when Her Majesty exits stage right?
Mark said: “We have three with the potential. I would have to say that Antigua Lava is probably the leading contender but Blueberry Bullet will also be top class and I have high hopes too for Aayamza Dream.”
Mark was thrilled for his former head man Patrick Janssens landed the 2021 Derby forecast and he is hoping his own kennel can mount a serious challenge in 2022.
He said: “Every year when we do these reviews I always say that we are a bit short in the top class middle distance ranks and it is the same this year.
“But I do think that Antigua Storm is our best chance since Bruisers Bullet. Apart from that night at Hove, I think returning to Yarmouth, where we used to train, and seeing Storm come from last to first must rate right up there among my highlights of the year. I was actually there for that one!
“Storm is a 50-1 Derby chance, which I think is about accurate in the current circumstances. He has been off lame after dislocating a toe in the Kent Derby but should be trialling shortly. He looks well suited to Towcester and I think he could go a long way. Beyond him though, we are still a bit thin on the ground.”
No up-and-coming stars?
Mark said: “We have a couple of young Irish dogs who may be useful but until I trial them, I’m not even prepared to name them.
“We’ve also had some very good youngsters from Ian Greaves. There is one I really like, Tiffield Trajan, a June pup who has won his first two races at Henlow in impressive fashion.
“Of course it’s a long way from A2 Henlow to Derby class but hopefully he can show up well in the Puppy Derby at Monmore. It is always a great competition but with £20,000 to the winner, it could be the best ever.”
