MELODYS SECRET showed his younger rivals a clear pair of heels to land a trouble-marred Coral Guys and Dolls Final at Romford on Friday.

In the process, the ultra-consistent four-year-old son of Laughil Blake and Melodys Diamond – winning for the 27th time in 69 starts – landed a first GBGB Category One title for his trainer Spencer Mavrias as he took the £7,500 first prize for owners George Ripley senior and Colin Moore.

Breaking smartly in the 400m final, Melodys Secret was just in front at the bend, shading fast-starting Ballymac Micko (Jim Reynolds), but the latter along with Roxholme Irene (Nathan Hunt), favourite Holdem Lauren (Carol Weatherall) and Jesses Sister (Mark Wallis) all hit the deck as the field came together at the turn.

All were quickly back on their feet and none the worse for the experience, although it left Melodys Secret, bumped at the bend himself but missing the worst of it, clear and on his way to a 24.32sec victory over Yarmouth raider Adamant Taurus (Jane Craske), winning by one and a quarter lengths.

“I’m delighted all the dogs were up on their feet and finished, it’s never nice to see, but I’m made up with my fella,” said winning trainer Mavrias. “He’s always loved Romford and seems to break better there than anywhere else – and that’s when you’ll see him at his best. He doesn’t get picked up in front.

“To be fair to the dog he was in front at the bend, so had won that race, and I’d have expected him to keep any lead,” said Mavrias, adding, “and once they crowded up in behind he was away. You looked behind to see the others were up, then saw him holding Jane’s dog (Adamant Taurus) and all’s good!

“We always knew he was a fast dog and is pretty well bred, too, being a half-brother of Lenson Bocko, last year’s Irish Derby winner.”

Mavrias paid tribute to assistant trainer Victoria Stoner and also praised their runner’s owners George Ripley and Colin Moore. “Victoria does tremendous work with the greyhounds on a daily basis and George and Colin and their families are great supporters of the kennel and let me get on with it.”

Moore, who was winning his second GBGB Category One title after Fit To Win’s 2014 Eclipse victory at Nottingham, said: “He’s been such a consistent dog, he deserves this Cat One trophy. He found trouble himself in the semis and did great to qualify and took his chance tonight well once getting to the front.

“He’s won about half his races which is superb, although it was good to see all the runners quickly back up. We’ve all been there but thankfully everything seems okay.”

Next year’s Guys and Dolls will return to Crayford, its regular home. A unique competition in the GBGB Calendar which separates dogs and bitches for heats and semi-finals, before bringing them together for the final, Romford racing manager Mark Arkell will look at the possibility of staging something similar at the Coral venue in the future.

“It’d be at a different time of the year, of course, but is something our trainers might be keen on,” he said. “The final was a messy affair ultimately but all have been given a clean bill of health. Well done to Spencer (Mavrias) and the dog’s owners. Melodys Secret has been a regular Romford winner over the years and deserves this.”