MICKS LITTLE GEM bagged another major title when landing the Ladbrokes Boxing Day Marathon at Crayford as the Michelle Brown-trained bitch added to her Dorando Marathon victory at Nottingham earlier this year.

In taking the £2,500 prize, the July 2017 daughter of Superior Product and Mays Maska kept the Boxing Day Marathon trophy at the Brown kennel given the trainer’s mother Hazel sent out Slippy Maggie to win 12 months previously before ‘retiring’ and handing over the licence to her daughter.

Slippy Maska, a half-sister of Micks Little Gem, had run-up to Maireads Ivy in 2017 so the Crayford event really has become an important end-of-season target for connections of the Malcolm Dickerson, Peter Fairs, Hazel Kemp and Colin Mackay-owned two-year-old, who dominated the 874m event from the get-go.

Trapping smartly, Micks Little Gem was soon in charge and ran right away from her rivals to cross the line 14 lengths of her nearest challenger Ayamza Breeze (Mark Wallis) in 56.44sec, the latter shading Kent Cesarewitch winner Burgess Honey (Lee Gifkins) for second in what was this year’s Regency heroine’s last race before retirement.

A delighted winning trainer Michelle Brown said of Micks Little Gem: “She really completed our Christmas. It was a fantastic run and, to be honest, when she flew out I was gobsmacked and actually scared she’d done too much too soon, but she showed she can do it at both ends. It was a great run and thanks to all my kennelhands for their hard work.

“A special thanks go to two of them – mum and dad (Hazel and Michael)! They were in charge at Crayford on Boxing Day and everyone had a fantastic time I understand – I was back at the kennels making sure all was good at home. It certainly made Boxing Day special again and hopefully she can continue where she’s left off in 2020.

“I’d imagine we’ll enter her for a few one-offs at Romford just to keep her ticking over, hoping they fill! The Ladbrokes Golden Jacket will certainly be on the agenda, even though  714m is really too short for her. She just loves Crayford, so we’ve got to aim at the Jacket. She’s six from six there and, if she can break well, can hopefully pick them up.”

Congratulating connections on the victory of Micks Little Gem, Crayford racing manager Danny Rayment said: “As a race, the Boxing Day Marathon was pretty much settled at trap-rise when Micks Little Gem unexpectedly pinged the lids and quickly put daylight between herself and her rivals before drawing clear.

“I’d like to pay tribute to her, but also Aayamza Breeze who was having her last race and has been a fantastic servant for connections, winning a Regency and a Dorando among many other long-distance successes, which also included last year’s 1048m race here supporting the Golden Jacket Final.

“It’s great to hear that Micks Little Gem will now be targeted at the 2020 Ladbrokes Golden Jacket, which is the first leg of the newly introduced ‘Crayford Grand Slam’ over the extended distances.

“If any greyhound wins the Golden Jacket (714m), the Kent Cesarewitch (874m), the Kent St Leger (714m) and the Boxing Day Marathon (874m) they will receive a £10,000 bonus.

Any dog winning three of them gets the ‘Triple Crown’ bonus of £5,000, while two victories will earn a bonus of £2,500.

“I’d say already Michelle Brown has a strong hand in the major Crayford staying contests with Micks Little Gem and the returning Slippy Maggie. These bonuses will hopefully tempt their kennel and all other kennels out there with leading staying and marathon performers. We look forward to another exciting year here at Crayford.”