GARFINEY BLAZE successfully defended his Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch title at Central Park on Saturday.

Becoming just the second greyhound in the event’s history to achieve the feat, victory initiated a Category One weekend double for 15-time champion trainer Mark Wallis as, just 24 hours later, Table Toppers landed the Greyhound Racing UK Blue Riband Final at Towcester for him and the MWD Partnership.

A drifter in the market as support came in for new track record holder Droopys Flare (Sean Parker), Garfiney Blaze – and the rest of the field – had to give best early to Bright Jewel (Dave Lee) who raced clear early and looked set to land a huge shock at odds of 28-1 given she was well clear at halfway.

However, Garfiney Blaze began to make up ground down the far side second time and, full of running, railed into the lead off the last bend for a two and a half lengths victory over Bright Jewel in 44.75sec (-30).

Droopys Flotilla crossed the line in third just ahead of the running-on Droopys Flare (5-4F), but victory for Garfiney Blaze landed the Wallis runner a third Category One title after wins in this same event 12 months ago and the George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob Memorial at Hove in December.

The win in the £12,500 decider secured back-to-back Cesarewitch wins for the first time since Future Cutlet (1931/32) and delighted trainer Wallis.

“He’s a brilliant greyhound, up there with the very best stayers I’ve seen let alone trained. But for his injury last year I think he’d have been a shoo-in for Stayer of the Year – and he’s still got a chance – he’s just got a great will to win.

“We knew he was a top-class performer. Graham (Holland, previous trainer) told us that, and we’d seen that for ourselves from his Irish form. We already had his sister Ballymac Taylor here and she’s also a star, but Blaze’s record is something else for us when you think he’s won 18 of 21 races in the UK – that’s some return!

Hayley Huntley, stadium manager at the Kent venue, congratulated connections of Garfiney Blaze and was delighted with how the track’s first Category one competition of the year unfolded – especially after the semi-finals had to be moved.

“We had to move the semis on a week due to a frozen track, but the trainers understood and worked with us on the new date – and Saturday was really good here,” said Huntley. “It was a cracking’s night’s racing. We had a good crowd and our Saturday nights are really beginning to grow here now.

“The Cesarewitch is one of the big races in greyhound racing and we’re proud to be staging it. This was the third time Central Park has held the competition and we’ve seen history already! Well done to Garfiney Blaze for winning two Cesarewitch titles and thanks to all the trainers and owners who supported the event this year.”