A historic Arena Racing Company Grand Prix one-two-three was secured by champion trainer Mark Wallis and the MWD Partnership at a packed Sunderland Stadium on Friday.
The Suffolk trainer scooped the £12,500 competition with dual Category One champion Vhagar, while kennel mates Bombay Nutty and Newinn Cloud were second and third respectively.
It marked Wallis sixth’ Grand Prix success since the competition was inaugurated in 2007, and his third triumph in the last four years after Coonough Crow (2023) and New Destiny (2025) won more recent renewals.
The race’s outcome was all but confirmed when the Summer Stayers and Challenge Cup champion cut across Newinn Cloud and Tom Heilbron’s Ballymac Sargie at the first bend to open a two-length lead passing the line for the first time.
Third Category One crown
The gap was stretched down the back straight for the second time of asking and maintained to confirm a third Category One crown for the daughter of 2018 English Derby champion Dorotas Wildcat.
Owner Mike Davis said after the race that he believes she still has more big race success to come.
“She didn’t break as well as she can, but made her early pace count to get to the first bend in front,” said Mike.
“Once she was in front she was a winner all the way.
“She’s been a great greyhound for us, and for a stayer she isn’t that old either so there’s plenty left in the tank. If she stays fit, I’m sure she still has multiple Category One wins left in her.
“The team enjoy coming to Sunderland and everyone in the kennel deserves a lot of praise, they do a great job.
Very special
“A one, two, three in a Category One is very special. You have to treasure these moments because they don’t come around often in greyhound racing and for us it epitomises what we’re trying to achieve.
“We’ll look at the stayers competition at Towcester now which climaxes on Derby final night, although we haven’t ruled out a Derby tilt either.”
Tom Heilbron’s Ballymac Sargie and Droopys Cardi finished fourth and sixth, while John Flaherty’s Greenwell Bolt split the pair to finish fifth.
Race success
Elsewhere on the night there was big race success for local trainer Jill Sutherst who won the Arena Racing Company 640 with Witton Gucci.
Scottish trainer Brian Fairbairn landed a quickfire double meanwhile when Slingshot Leeona and Slingshot Poppy won the ARC Bitches and ARC Standard 450 Final respectively, much to the enthusiasm of scores of travelling racegoers from north of the border.
Tom Heilbron was on the podium twice too with Romeo Hanyu and star sprinter Bower Sheeran in the ARC 450 Division II and ARC Dash respectively. Scottish handler John Flaherty also won the ARC Maiden 640 with Greenwell Tyson.
Greyhound racing continues at Sunderland Stadium on Friday nights through the year with racing starting at 6.23pm. Full details – and tickets – are available online via www.sunderland-greyhounds.co.uk.
