Santas Amigo made history at a packed Newcastle on Saturday night when completing the Premier Greyhound Racing Classic and All England Cup double for trainer David Mullins.
Thirty-six days after scooping Sunderland’s premier prize, the Essex raider landed Newcastle’s most prestigious competition as part of a sparkling night of action on and off the track.
The dual Category One champion broke well to lead at the first bend and quickly put the race to bed, beating runner-up Droopys Bookem by three lengths and Ballymac Lake, who finished third.
It was a momentous moment for Wickford trainer David Mullins, who last won the All England Cup in 2002 with Let It Slip.
Unbelievable
Tom Heilbron’s pair Toddys Tank and Unanimous Leon were fourth and fifth, respectively.
Winning trainer David said: “He’s an unbelievable greyhound.
“I was a bit concerned early doors, because from my angle it wasn’t clear if he was going to make the bend in front. But he managed to do that, and once he is on the bunny he’s very difficult to pass.
“He arrived at the kennel with a big reputation. We finished his schooling and gradually educated him without pushing him too hard.
“Now he’s two years old, and the right races are coming up, everything is working out perfectly for him.
“He’ll have a rest in the coming weeks, then we’ll prep him for the Winter Derby and hopefully in the long term he can be an English Greyhound Derby greyhound.”
Local success
Elsewhere on the night, 10 races were held in memory of the late Jimmy Wright – who passed away from Motor Neurone Disease in February.
Headlining those races was the £3,500 Jimmy Wright Future Stars Puppy Trophy Final, won by Suffolk-based trainer Mark Wallis with Strike It Skye.
The January ’24 bitch made it five wins on the spin and went through the competition unbeaten, scoring by more than five lengths with Carl Jackson’s Crafty Regalo in second.
There was local success on the night too.
Ted Soppitt took the Droopys Buick Puppy 480 Trophy while Tom Heilbron notched four winners with Bower Sheeran, Ballymac Sargie, Madabout Peck and Parkview Sprite all winning their respective races.
Moment in the spotlight
Last year’s All England Cup winning trainer Jimmy Fenwick won the Shellam Delano Maiden Stayers Stakes with Zenith Magic – Division Two of the same race was won by Jill Sutherst’s Witton Gucci.
Sunderland trainer Carl Jackson had his moment in the spotlight when Droopys Sort obliged in the Droopys Expert 480 Standard Division One while John Flaherty’s Jacktavern Lab won the Coolavanny Aunty Stayers’ Stakes.
Joe Edgar won the Coolavanny Bani Bitches, while Savva Roberts’ Bogger Darling was a popular winner of the Droopys Expert 480 Standard Division Two.
Greyhound racing continues at Newcastle Stadium on Thursday nights, plus Friday and Saturday afternoons in 2026.
Tickets for all fixtures are available online via www.newcastle-greyhounds.co.uk
READ MORE: Heilbron triple-handed in Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup final
