THIS is month nine since the launch of the MWD Partnership but while so much has changed in the world of Imperial Kennels, Mark Wallis pursuit of his 14th Trainers Championship goes from strength to strength.
In this exclusive interview, Mark gives an insight into a potential record breaking performance as well as reflecting on the current state of the MWD racing strength.
Mark’s thoughts on his runners in the forthcoming Gold Collar, Puppy Derby and Eclipse fixtures will be included in those previews.
RAB McNair has announced that King Turbo has been withdrawn from stud duties and retired as a pet.
KING TURBO – a British bred champion Photo: © Steve Nash
Rab said: “I spoke to Richard Devenish who said Turbo wasn’t getting any bitches so it seemed the obvious thing to do. Lisa (Samson) wants to take him home, though he would have had a place here.
“In fact, I have a list of four different people who have asked me for dogs; we just don’t have any others available at the moment.”
One of the great British breds of the last decade, Turbo won five Cat One events, including four in the same year – the 2018 Monmore and Towcester Gold Cups, the Kent Derby and Olympic but was pipped for Greyhound of the Year by Dorotas Wildcat (who won the ‘Standard’ and main titles).
The home bred had potentially represented the KSS Syndicate’s best ever chance of winning the English Derby (he beat Dorotas Wildcat in the Gold Cup over the 480m at Towcester).
However, he never had the opportunity following the decision of the Swindon stewards to disqualify him in his seventh race, and then Racing Manager Chris Page’s decision not to allow disqualified dogs into the Derby.
Although Rachel Corden quashed that ruling when Nottingham took on the Derby, it was a year too late for the son of Leamaneigh Turbo. (All his success came in the 61 unblemished races after his clearing trials).
Turbo’s second litter, out of the unproven Queen Charlotte, are January ’22 whelps and include Queen Dusty who contests the Puppy Derby semis on Sunday
DAVE Firmager’s Romeo Cypher (Droopys Sydney-Fabulous Skylar, Feb 22) laid down a claim for the Harlow Performance of the Week with a 26.24 open win over the 415m course on Wednesday night.
It was just 12 spots off the fastest time of the year but also another valuable lesson in David Mullins’ meticulous education of the Coral (Romford) Puppy Cup finalist (he ran third to brother Romeo Crusade).
Because although it was just Cypher’s sixth race, the Melton Mowbray born white and black has already trialled at Romford, Oxford, Sunderland, Towcester and Harlow.
IN a press release prior to the start of the PGR All England Cup, PR agency Fortitude Communications have produced a tribute to one of Newcastle’s unsung heros/heroines, Donna Thrussell.
