Syndicates have long been the supposed saviour of greyhound racing. Most don’t endure, for a variety of reasons. But when they do, as in the case of the KSS Syndicate and the Bubbly Club, it is because they tick all the necessary boxes.
On Friday night, the Aayamzaboys Syndicate, picked up their seventh Cat One event when Aayamza Magic landed the £10K Coral Essex Vase. But you don’t have to study them for very long to understand their winning formula.
The founder of the ‘Aayamzas’ is businessman Mitchell Brenner. The name came from a favourite Lebanese restaurant in Dubai and the founder members were Mitch, brother Perry, and Mitch’s good mate from bowls, Nigel Smith.
Mitch said: “I got into the dogs through my old boss Colin Wilson who had the Xamax dogs and was a lovely guy.
“But I knew from the start that whatever dogs we were going to be involved with, they had to be stayers, or having the potential to stay or become marathon dogs. My ambition was to win the TV Trophy, something I had watched on the BBC with my dad when I was a kid.
“I saw so many of Colin’s dogs get beat or get injured and I formed the opinion, rightly or wrongly, that stayers were less likely to go lame.”
It didn’t necessarily start out that way. Their first runner Aayamza Man was a Romford 400 metre specialist, who at one stage built up a record of 10:11. That was 11 years ago.
Their first major finalist was actually in the 2014 Coronation Cup where Aayamzamodel finished fourth to kennelmate Reel Trickyone. A month later she brought them their first success when landing the Peter Bussey Memorial and later followed up with the Ladies Trophy at Hove.
But while Model was really a ‘good Cat 2’ quality bitch, it would be Aayamza Breeze who would take the level up one.
On the old Towcester circuit she won the 2017 Dorando in a fabulous eight-runner field before going on to win the following year’s Regency.
“The one that I really wanted was the TV Trophy” recalls Mitch “and she came so close.”
In fact, the daughter of Aero Majestic was beaten in a photo by kennelmate Bumblebee Bullet, just two weeks after the syndicate had picked up their first Champion Stakes with Aayamza Express.
But the ‘dream hound’ finally appeared in the shape of a certain Aayamza Royale who kicked off by taking the 2020 Cesarewitch followed by the 2020 TV Trophy. As if to emphasise a point, five months later, she also won the 2021 version on her way to the Greyhound of the Year title.
In between that win, and the same year’s Regency, Royale was surprisingly beaten in the First Containers Dorando Marathon, and then later the First Containers Marathon, both sponsored by Mitch’s company. (The latter was one of the greatest marathons of the last decade, won by Space Jet with the first five home separated by less than a body length).
So how do the ‘Aayamzas’ operate?
Well for a start, they are a fairly flexible group. Aayamza Magic has seven owners: John Hill, Diane Barrett, David Rayner, Nigel Smith, Steve Cragg, Nigel Shaw, and Mitchell Brenner, and they come from a variety of backgrounds.
Dave Rayner was Mitch’s first ever boss, Nigel Shaw is a publican at the Rose & Crown in Woodford Green, some are old friends.
Mitch said: “All together, over the years, and looking at the various WhatsApp groups, including the main one, I reckon there have been around a dozen and a half people involved since we started. Some simply pay their £500 for an interest in a dog, others are regularly involved.”
One of the most impressive aspects of the Aayamza operation is the talent spotting. Although they will pay up to £20K for a hound, that is never a guarantee of success.
Mitch said: “Funnily enough that first dog, Aayamza Man was one of the most expensive at £18K. But (Aayamza) Lexie was £7K, Express was £9K, Royale was £8K.”
Mitch said: “Nigel (Smith) in particular is a very good judge and there are a couple of people in Ireland who know their stuff. Before she made her name, Nigel even picked out that bitch who went on to win the Diamond Stakes at 25-1 Oxford (Mohican Tara). He thought she had great potential, though that ship has obviously now sailed.”
So what additional insights – apart from a good scouting system – would Mitch Brenner offer concerning the success of the Aayamzas?
He said: “First of all, have one person organising everything. You cannot run a syndicate where everyone wants to have their say.
“Secondly, if you have a top trainer – and we have the very best in Mark Wallis – don’t attempt to tell him how to do his job.”
Despite trusting entirely in his trainer, Mitch admitted that he didn’t back Magic on Friday night. But that took nothing away from the occasion.
He said: “It was a great night. I’ve noticed that there seems to be a real buzz about Romford again. In fact, if I had any concerns it would be that they seemed to be struggling with such a large crowd. There was a really great atmosphere.”
As for the future, keep an eye out for Aayamza Force who is currently injured in Ireland but due over shortly. He only has one race on his card, a calculated 28.46 win at Newbridge. Plus the unraced Aayamza Sydney, a highly rated unraced son of Aayamza Breeze.
AAYAMZA MAGIC (t3 right) wins the Coral Essex Vase Final from Coolavanny Aunty (t1) Photo: © Steve Nash
