KING MEMPHIS rewrote the record books at Towcester on Sunday as Liz McNair’s precocious young star King Memphis set a new track record for the Northamptonshire track’s 500m trip with a stunning effort in the second semi-final of the RPGTV English Puppy Derby.

In what was a stellar afternoon for the Ashford, Kent, set-up of the McNairs and the KSS Syndicate, litter brothers King Memphis and King Capaldi struck in their respective semi-finals, while another littermate King Combs also qualified for this week’s £10,000 decider, as did kennelmate Queen Dusty.

It means the McNairs will be four-handed in the GBGB Category One showpiece with King Memphis the one to beat on the clock after he took three spots off the previous best of 28.69sec set by Eclipse finalist Clona Duke during the English Derby when making all in 28.66sec (normal) for the one-lap distance.

Quickly into stride, the December 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Queen Beyonce was soon clear and, heading across to the rails, turned on the style to race away for a seven and a quarter lengths success over litter brother Kings Combs, who stayed on best to grab second from Droopys Eddie (Maxine Locke) on the run for home.

Another member of the winner’s litter, King Capaldi, also showed up well from the get-go in the first semi-final and, coming through a duel with the always-handy Coolavanny Mercy (Angela Harrison), crossed the line two a three-quarter lengths clear of the Romford Puppy Cup runner-up and Queen Dusty, a kennelmate of the winner, in 29.07sec (normal).

James Chalkley, director of racing at Towcester, said: “It’s a truly fantastic final and the first thing I must say is well done to Liz and Rab McNair. However the final pans out – and we know in greyhound racing and sport anything can happen – their achievement in qualifying four runners through to the final is quite something.

“And the fact three of the four are from the same litter is just incredible and must be so satisfying for Rab and Liz and all the team at their kennels. They’ve watched these youngsters from their first steps at the kennels to winning races in Cat One events – and, in King Memphis’s case, breaking the track record.

“And that’s definitely something when you think we’re talking about a pup breaking a track record in November. It was a good track record of Clona Duke’s, too.

“Thankfully this year’s RPGTV English Puppy Derby has been less eventful than last year and all the talking has been about what’s happened on the track. I think we’ve all learned from last year and it’s just great to be concentrating on some top-class racing.”

Trap draw for Sunday’s RPGTV English Puppy Derby Final: 1 King Capaldi, 2 King Combs, 3 King Memphis, 4 Coolavanny Mercy (m), 5 Droopys Eddie (m), 6 Queen Dusty (w).