AAYAMZA ROYALE is the RPGTV/GWA Greyhound of the Month winner for December.

In a poll of RPGTV viewers, TV Trophy champion Aayamza Royale saw off the challenge of Oaks heroine Ballymac Trend (Angie Kibble), British Derby Derby winner Elderberry Sky (Patricia Cowdrill) and Puppy Derby victor Surprising (Seamus Cahill).

A November 2017 daughter of Ballymac Eske and Ascot Lydia, Aayamza Royale is trained by Mark Wallis for the Ayamzaboys Syndicate, headed by Nigel Smith and Mitch Brenner. The syndicate also includes members Steve Cragg, Andy Pelley, Dave Partner, Mark Banning, Nigel Shaw, John Hill, Richard Sanderson, Dave Rayner and John Stewart.

Aayamza Royale landed connections a brilliant Coral TV Trophy victory at Hove last month, a success which, added to her Coral Cesarewitch triumph, makes her a leading contender for Marathon Performer of the Year at next month’s GBGB Greyhound of the Year Awards.

On hearing the news, a delighted Mark Wallis said: “She so deserves this. She had a great year after some initial concerns when we wondered whether they’d be enough racing for her. In the weeks after the first lockdown, we really didn’t know what the open-race calendar was going to look like, so we sent her to Ireland.

“When she came back we targeted the Cesarewitch and then the TV Trophy. The Cesarewitch final was one of the best races of 2020 and then at Hove she just showed her class – and what we knew – that she’s as strong as an ox!”

The TV Trophy had been billed as a match between Roxholme Kristof and Aayamza Royale and the former led his chief rival in both heat and final, but in very soft conditions on final night the Wallis bitch proved the stronger as she led home Redzer Renae.

“That TV Trophy final was definitely as big a test of stamina as we’ve seen, but ‘Lydia’ is just a powerhouse. But she also showed during the St Leger she has fantastic speed for a stayer too – she’s just a pleasure to train.

“It was great to win our third TV Trophy, especially for the ‘Ayamzaboys’ who had come so close to winning the TV Trophy in the past. It was a fantastic end to the year that gave us a real lift in such difficult times.

“Lydia is having a short rest now. She’ll miss the [Ladbrokes] Golden Jacket at Crayford – we just feel the trip is too sharp for her – and she’ll be kept to marathons and maybe some of the stiffer six-bend trips.

“As ever my thanks go to the team and my family that make our kennel so special – Sarah, Daniel, Emily and Linda and, of course, our loyal staff Sid, Kevin, Justine, Kat, Becky, Ronnie and Ron Mills for all his hard work throughout the year.”