AAYAMZA SYDNEY produced the perfect way to sign off Perry Barr’s big-race history with a power-packed and brilliant victory in the Arena Racing Company Laurels Final on Saturday.

The last major competition at the Birmingham venue before the switch to Dunstall Park, Wolverhampton, later this year, John Mullins sent out the September 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Aayamza Breeze to claim gold in the £12,500 final for a second Category One success after his famous win in the Jay & Kay Coach Tours Gold Collar at Crayford last year.

Aayamza Sydney broke the track record in that final and lined up in the 480m final at Perry Barr as the new track record holder for the four-bend trip after a sensational 27.75sec in the semi-finals – and the Ayamzaboys Syndicate-owned powerhouse went close to that mark in winning the longstanding event, one of the sport’s original Classics.

From the boxes, however, it was Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks champion Druids Say Go (Patrick Janssens) who cut a dash with a fast start and turn of early pace which secured the all-important lead with Churchfield Syd (Richard Rees) rushing up on the outside to get into contention along with Aayamza Sydney who had also made a decent start from his midfield berth inside Druids Say Go.

As Druids Say Go flew down the back-straight, Aayamza Sydney moved into second and had his sights set on the leader and readied himself to challenge off the last bend

Catching Druids Say Go on the run for home, Mullins’ star went on for a length and three-quarters success over Druids Say Go and Churchfield Syd in 27.78sec (normal), remarkably just three spots off his own best set seven days previously.

Delighted to win the last Laurels at Perry Barr and following his mum Linda’s three wins in the famous competition at Wimbledon, winning trainer Mullins said: “The Laurels is one of the best competitions in the sport, so to win it is very special.

“He came into this fresh. We’d given him a couple of weeks off after Monmore but always had this in mind. He made the Birmingham Cup final at Perry Barr last year and runs the track well – as you saw in the semis. He’s a tough dog to beat when he breaks and gets into a position and that’s what happened tonight.”

Nigel Smith, on hand as part of the owning Ayamzaboys Syndicate along with Lorraine Hyde-Banning and Steve and Sarah Cragg, said: “He’s such a fantastic dog to be involved with and we’re looking forward to having a crack at the (Star Sports) Derby with him at Towcester. He might give us some each-way fun I reckon!”

Hyde-Banning added: “That was his ninth Category One final and second win, with two track records now. He’s an absolute star and tonight was some race. One of the best I’ve seen because Patrick’s (Janssens) bitch is an absolute star herself.

“To run the race he has was brilliant.”