PUNK ROCK DOLL, the Stuart Maplesden-trained Ladbrokes Guys & Dolls champion, is the RPGTV/GWA Greyhound of the Month for June.

Part-owned by Matt Christelow and Tony O’Shaughnessy, the August 2018 daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Jayne scored a popular triumph in the Crayford feature last month to add to a sensational year for the Maplesden and Christelow at the Kent venue.

The same owner/trainer combination struck with Punk Rock Mutley in the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket in February – and Hove-based Maplesden is delighted Crayford has been such a lucky track for the kennel this year.

“It’s been brilliant,” he said. “Winning this award is almost the icing on the cake – even though we’re hoping she progresses even more.

“She did everything right at Crayford – and some more – but we’ve always known she has great ability and it was just fantastic that it all came together in the Guys & Dolls.

“Dolly’s a lovely brindle girl who’s very affectionate but always naughty. In many ways she knows she’s lovely and lives for Sundays as she knows Matt and his wife Lek come up every week.

“On the track she’s a genuine bitch but likes things her way for sure. As for plans at the moment it’s a case of a suitable one-off – it’s hard to find anything that would really suit her early without pushing her trip-wise and opens seem to be sparse at present.

“I just wish Oxford would hurry up and open for their standard trip! That would be perfect.

“I’m hopeful for her moving up to 480m, which would bring into play the Yarmouth Derby and also the Kent Derby if it’s on. There’s also the Birmingham Cup at Perry Barr and maybe the Oaks again this year as last year she wasn’t fit enough when we went there. She was just back from a spot of lameness, and I probably shouldn’t have taken her, but we’ll have another go this year.”

Clive Lawrence, RPGTV’s executive producer, said: “I’m not sure we’ve had a more appropriately named winner of a competition this year. Punk Rock Doll winning the Guys & Dolls – and beating the boys home for good measure, too!

“It’s great for Stuart and the team. He said himself at the time it’s nice for the smaller kennels to have a shot at these trophies – but he and the team, and Punk Rock Doll naturally, fully deserve the Greyhound of the Month award.

“Of course we had some top-class performances in the month during the Derby at Towcester and no doubt that will be recognised by the GWA next month! However, we had some fantastic racing generally on RPGTV in June – and Crayford certainly played their part with the Ladbrokes Kent St Leger and Guys & Dolls.”

In landing the monthly honour, Punk Rock Doll edged her fellow nominations Adeles Duke (Lee Field), Bockos Belly (Patrick Janssens), Bo Shine Bullet (Mark Wallis) and Deerjet Sydney (Pat Buckley).