VHAGAR plundered his second Category One title of 2025 with a last-gasp and thrilling victory in the bet365 Challenge Cup Final at Oxford on Sunday.

Already winner of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic at Monmore in August and third in the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger to kennelmate Mongys Wild at Nottingham in October, the Mark Wallis-trained, MWD Partnership-owned runner came again to grab Romeo Empire (Patrick Janssens) on the run for home for a superb victory.

Vhagar had trapped in front, looking to justify 8-13 favouritism, and set the early tempo until Romeo Empire paced up on her inside and the pair went head to head to approaching the third bend when the British Bred St Leger winner nosed ahead and took a clear advantage into the penultimate bend.

However, not be denied and taking advantage of Romeo Empire beginning to come under pressure, Vhagar stayed on to reel in Romeo Empire for a neck victory over that rival in 39.11sec (-30) for the 650m trip, with Newinn Cloud, a kennelmate of the winner, crossing the line in third in the showpiece event at the Cowley track.

In winning, the February 2023 daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Limini notched a six-timer to complete a fabulous year on the track for her.

Pat Cooney of sponsors bet365 was delighted with how the bet365 Challenge Cup panned out, especially with such an exciting finish to the £10,000 final.

He said: “We seem to be lucky with our bet365-sponsored Category One finals as they all seem to provide thrilling finishes – and Sunday’s bet365 Challenge Cup Final may well have been the best so far with Vhagar narrowly beating Romeo Empire in a virtual carbon-copy of their semi final.

“Vhagar’s proven stamina over further certainly proved vital, although fair play to the runner-up who was certainly very game in defeat.

“All in all a great way to end our big-race sponsorship for 2025, but there’s plenty to look forward to also!

“We’ve confirmed our sponsorship in 2026 and will have four Category Ones, all at Oxford, with a new Category One £10,000-to-the-winner sprint competition in May.  

Winning trainer Mark Wallis, on the verge of claiming a 16th Trainer of the Year title, is to target events such as the Coral Essex Vase at Romford and Arc Cesarewitch at Central Park with the likes of his now dual Category One winner Vhagar and fellow Oxford finalist, third-placed Newinn Cloud.