MONGYS WILD extended his winning sequence to 13 with a brilliant, power-packed victory in the final of the Premier Greyhound Racing Regency – on a major double-header at Hove on Saturday.

Trained by Mark Wallis for the MWD Partnership and already winner of the Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket and Time Greyhound Nutrition TV Trophy, Mongys Wild added a third Category One title to his CV with a show of strength and an immersive show of trackcraft to claim gold in the £20,000 showpiece.

On a night Hove also staged the final of the Coral Sussex Cup, Mongys Wild lined up eyeing a big-race double for the champion trainer given kennelmate Proper Heiress had won the 515m showpiece some 30 minutes earlier.

Heading to traps the 1-4 favourite after comeback wins in heat and semi-final – a cough had ruled the October 2022 son of Roxholme Olaf and Banter Breeze out of the Dorando Marathon on Derby final night at Towcester – Mongys Wild faced four opponents after kennelmate Garfiney Blaze had been withdrawn.

Led up as expected by Romeo Empire (Patrick Janssens), the latter set a furious gallop up ahead as Mongys Wild, who had broken well, was shuffled towards the back of the pack. A bump with kennelmate Bombay Nutty halted his progress as they embarked on the second circuit but he now gathered himself for a challenge.

Powering down the home-straight to close on the wide-running leader, Mongys Wild then had to check his stride again as Romeo Empire cut the bend but recovered quickly to now go round the outside of his rival before drawing away for a four-length success from the Derby quarter-finalist in a calculated time of 41.34sec (+15) for the 695m trip.

Droopys Invent (Seamus Cahill) crossed the line in third, but victory was Mongys Wild’s who could now target the Arc Select Stayers at Nottingham on Bank Holiday Monday later this month before a crack at the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger back at the Colwick Park venue following its switch from Perry Barr.

“He might have a race in between, we’ll see, but Nottingham seems the most likely way to go,” said winning trainer Mark Wallis. “Ned was again brilliant on the night and we’re lucky to have a dog like him – as we are with Proper Heiress – who are winning these major competitions really impressively.

“He’s up to 13 wins in a row now and that’s in the back of our minds – you want it to continue if you can – but it’s the big events we’ve got to target with him and, if that winning run was to continue, then maybe it’s another conversation – but not yet!

“I thought the drone footage they had was really good and it showed you what Mongys Wild had to do to win, especially down the far side second time. You could see he was making ground on Patrick’s dog (Romeo Empire). He was running quite wide down the back and Ned saw a gap inside at the bend which he went for.

“However, Romeo Empire cut the bend at that point and Ned had to put the brakes on. A lesser dog might have got himself into trouble then but he gathered himself again, this time went round the outside and went on. It was a great show of trackcraft which might easily have been missed, but shows you what he’s all about.

“He’s come out of the race well, as has Proper Heiress. It was a good night’s work.”

Photos: © Steve Nash