MARK WALLIS celebrated sealing his 14th Trainer of the Year title a few days earlier by sending out littermates Garfiney Blaze and Ballymac Taylor for an Imperial Kennels double as the Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch kick-started 2024 at Central Park on Saturday.

The GBGB Category One event is being staged over the Kent track’s new six-bend trip of 731m and Garfiney Blaze ended the night as fastest heat winner and therefore new track record holder after an impressive heat three-winning effort.

The former Irish-trained star was making his UK debut for Wallis and paced up well into the turn for a first-bend lead and never looked in danger, coming home two and a half lengths clear of Bradys Bullet (Belinda Green) and Bubbly Inferno (Paul Young).

The winning time was 44.94sec (-20), half a length quicker than Ela Maestro (44.98sec – 20) posted when scoring an all-the-way success in heat two.

Well away, Chris Hamblin’s dog was always in charge on his way to a length-and-a-half win over running-on Mad For Sterling (Mark Wallis) and Bellmore Sally (Jimmy Fenwick) as the dual Golden Jacket winner continued her comeback with another solid run.

Gutsy Jet, third behind Havana Top Note and Mad For Sterling in the recent Bet365 Challenge Cup at Oxford, proved another heat winner of the Cesarewitch for trainer Kevin Boon after his Farneys Trend was fastest in last year’s heats of the famous race.

A fast start from this strong-running sort always had his rivals under pressure in heat one before coming home a length and three-quarters clear of slow-starting but staying-on Bubbly Scorcher (Paul Young) and Alright Gordy (David Lewis) in 45.57sec.

Ballymac Taylor, very much TV Trophy-bound, began 2024 in the best possible style when completing a littermate double in heat four for Mark Wallis after Garfiney Blaze’s earlier win, finishing best of all to land the spoils from kennelmate Jacktavern Magic.

The wide-running latter led the charge for much of the way before had no answer to Ballymac Taylor’s stamina-laden style as she came powerfully through to win by two and a half lengths in front of Jacktavern Magic and third-placed Capel Rose (Tony Gifkins).

Rob Killingbeck, Central Park racing manager, said: “We’re delighted to be hosting the Arc Cesarewitch for the second year. The Cesarewitch is one of the sport’s original Classics and has a great history – and we look set for another cracker this year.

“Mark (Wallis) had a great 2023 by winning the trainer’s title and is clearly looking to be the one to beat again judged on his start here – and has a strong hand in the semis.

“This was the first time we’ve raced over 731m and it’s a real test of stamina for six-bend performers, although you need the necessary speed to get you into the race in the first place. It’s shaping as the perfect mix in many ways – but I couldn’t guess the winner!

“We’re racing Saturday nights again now and had a decent crowd in at the weekend and we expect that to build up as we go through the year.”

Trap draw for Saturday’s semi-finals: https://www.centralpark-greyhounds.co.uk/racing/