2017 Greyhound of the Year King Elvis has probably run his last race after coming off lame from the RPGTV Golden Crest Final at Poole on Sunday.
Assistant trainer Rab McNair said: “He has badly damaged the main tendon behind the wrist. I asked Cecil Law to check him over and Cecil couldn’t believe that the dog could have completed the course on Sunday. But that would be Elvis for you.
“The dog is in no pain, and the swelling will soon be gone, but I know from experience that this is probably a career ending injury. He will be four years in October, what is there left to prove with the dog?
“He is one of the best I have handled, for his bravery and honesty as much as his pace. I have a couple of bitches that I would like to put to him and I think he could be a huge asset to British breeding.”
Bred and reared at the KSS Syncidate range in Kent, Elvis joins an elite group of British bred Greyhounds of the Year that includes Jimmy Lollie (2010), Spiridon Louis (2007) and Westmead Hawk (2005/2006).
Elvis made his debut at 19 months old when successful in winning a Romford 400m open. His 12th race was the final of the 2017 Produce Stakes at Swindon (1-1 fav) – he went through the event unbeaten having clocked 28.51 (480) in the semi finals. A month later he lifted the Trafalgar Cup (4-6f) in 27.96 for Monmore’s 480m. He clocked 23.76 in the heats of the Romford Puppy Cup but drew five in the final and was well beaten by Roxholme Nidge in 23.70.
Elvis’ first competition as a two year old was the 2017 Henlow Derby which he duly won having clocked 27.11 (460m) in both semi finals and final. At the annual awards, he took the titles for Best Newcomer, Best Standard Distance runner, Best British Bred Greyhound and Greyhound of the Year.
Elvis’ next 11 races were at Towcester and included the 2017 British Bred Derby, where he beat King Turbo. Elvis reached the Astute Missile Gold Cup Final where King Turbo reversed the form and reached the Star Sports Derby quarter finals, clocking 29.23 for the 500 metres in the previous round.
The frustrations continued throughout 2018. Elvis reached William Hill Classic Final unbeaten (1-1 fav) but was turned over by 10-1 shot Arrowdale Bruno in the final. He won heats in 27.94 and 27.91 in the Ladbrokes Gold Cup but was again beaten by kennelmate Turbo in the decider – the pair had started at 6-4 and 5-4f.
There was more frustration in the East Anglian Derby where he equalled the superb 27.17 track record held by Fear Zafonic but was beaten in the final by the excellent Afane Party. The Henlow Derby double was foiled by 8-1 chance Bubbly Turbo.
Elvis contested three competitions in 2019. He started at 4-6f for the Golden Sprint Final and finished third. He started at evens favourite for the Kent Silver Salver (beaten half a length) and rounded off an amazing career with victory in the RPGTV Golden Crest.
King Elvis career record: 54 races (all opens) 34 wins, 10 seconds. He contested 10 Cat One finals (winning three) and three Cat Two Finals (winning two).
King Elvis is the most successful son of the brilliant Tullymurry Act whose progeny also included the likes of Lenson Sanchez, Murrys Act, Forest Chunk, Droopys Acrobat and Quietly to name but five.
His dam Skate On finished runner-up in the 2012 Oaks, was runner-up in the 2014 Scurry Cup and broke sprint track records at Yarmouth, Nottingham and Wimbledon.
Elvis was the only male from her first litter which also included 2017 National Sprint winner Queen Anna plus Bedfordshire Mini Derby winner/Henlow 428m record holder Queen Adele. Queen Paloma and Queen Whitney also won opens.
Six members of Skate On’s second litter by Eden The Kid have won open races.
KING ELVIS with Liz and Rab McNair after his RPGTV Derby success. Photo: © Steve Nash
