GARFINEY BLAZE initiated a big-race double for near 15-time champion trainer Mark Wallis at Hove with victory in the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial Final on Saturday – on what proved a glorious night for Imperial Kennels and the MWD Partnership.

Sandwiched in between New Destiny’s success in the bet365 Challenge Cup at Oxford and the later success at Hove of Proper Heiress in the Coral Olympic Final, Garfiney Blaze landed his second Category One title of 2024 and third competition success of the year in last-gasp style in a thrilling finish over 740m.

Out of the boxes quickly and setting sail for home was Droopys Flotilla (Nathan Hunt). The recent Nottingham track record-breaker really is at the top of her game just now and put her rivals under pressure, forcing 10-11 favourite Garfiney Blaze to pull out all the stops.

Always handy, the September 2021 son of Ballymac Anton and Ballymac Merkle never gave up in behind and, staying on well past halfway, challenged up the home-straight and grabbed the leader in the shadow of the post for a short-head victory in 43.92sec (+15), with the winner’s litter sister Hopiehopiehopie (Kevin Hutton) crossing the line in third.

A track record-breaking winner of the Arc Cesarewitch at the turn of the year, Garfiney Blaze gained maximum points for Mark Wallis on Trainers’ Judgement Night at Hove before winning a two-run 684m event at Monmore. However, injured after winning over 712m at Towcester in June, he was off the track for several weeks.

“We gave him plenty of time off and it’s paid off, he was brilliant at Hove. It’s just a shame he missed races like the St Leger – he’d have been perfect for that,” said Wallis of his runner who has won 15 of 17 races in the UK now.

“It’s an unbelievable record to be fair. As a Corn Cuchulainn finalist and brother of our own Ballymac Taylor he was bought as a good dog. He was actually pretty unlucky in last year’s St Leger, making the final but we had to take him out. But he’s just a winner – his record at a good few tracks proves that.

“He’s got to be in Stayer of the Year reckoning, albeit with our own New Destiny. I hope they don’t split the vote too much!

“He’ll be off to Towcester a race there on (bet365) Puppy Oaks night. We’re taking a team there and looking forward to it – for us it’s pretty much our final round of open-race runners in the year – and with seven Cat Ones landed it’s not been a bad one!”

Rob Abrey, Hove racing manager, said: “Well done to Mark (Wallis) and his team who had a fantastic night. That was some double to achieve with us – and what a finish to the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial. We couldn’t have asked for more on a big night in front of a really good Christmas crowd.”