AAYAMZA ROYALE, the Mark Wallis-trained and Aayamzaboys Syndicate-owned reigning GBGB Greyhound of the Year, has another trophy for the mantlepiece after landing the RPGTV/GWA Greyhound of the Month for May.

The brilliant November 2017 daughter of Ballymac Eske and Ascot Lydia – known simply at Imperial Kennels as ‘Lydia’ – broke her own Monmore track record for the fourth time when winning the Ladbrokes TV Trophy last month as she became the fourth greyhound to win two TV Trophy titles – and the third back-to-back.

“I said at the time that Lydia peaked at the right time for the TV Trophy and that was always the plan,” said Wallis. “She loves Monmore and likely trials there this week just to keep her ticking over ahead of the Dorando Marathon on Derby final night. That’s her next major target and we might look at a trial or race at Towcester before.

“She’s a real kennel favourite and all the family and the staff love her, so thanks to them for their hard work, and to Ron Mills for his work on her prior to the TV Trophy. Ron does a great job and meant she went into that final bouncing, in great shape, and produced her best. As the clock showed, she got better and better.”

Aayamza Royale is owned by Ayamzaboys Syndicate, made up of Nigel Smith, Mitch Brennan, Steve Cragg, Andy Pelley, Dave Partner, Mark Banning, Nigel Shaw, John Hill, Richard Sanderson, Dave Rayner and John Steward – and Wallis paid his own tribute to the owners for their longstanding support.

“The Aayamza prefix has become well known in the game and, while we’re delighted to have helped make that so, you have to credit the lads for their loyalty and support. They love their dogs and it’s great that we’ve won these major events together, especially because the first Cat One took a few years!

“We’d gone close and were quite unlucky a few times but the guys never lost their enthusiasm and Lydia has given them all great fun. Hopefully that continues.”

Clive Lawrence, RPGTV’s executive producer, said: “It’s not often a marathon runner wins the Greyhound of the Year, so that always made Aayamza Royale extra special – and it’s great to see her carry that 2020 form into this year.

“She was sensational at Monmore and our viewers on SportyStuff TV loved what she did throughout the TV Trophy. We covered the build-up when she broke the track record twice – and then did it twice again in the heats and final. She’s a real star of the track and is a worthy winner of the RPGTV/GWA Greyhound of the Month for May.”

In landing the award, Aayamza Royale edged out the following nominees: Jim Daly’s George Ing St Leger hero Blue Tick George, Ricky Holloway’s RPGTV Grand National champion Meenagh Maverick, Tom Heilbron’s Arc Northern Flat victor Pacemaker Ted and Patrick Janssens’ KAB Maiden Derby winner Thorn Falcon.