KING MEMPHIS landed the GTV/GWA Greyhound of the Month award for December after winning the end-of-season Coral Olympic at Hove.

Owned by Brendan Keogh and the KSS Syndicate and trained by Liz McNair, the December 21 home-bred son of Droopys Sydney and Queen Beyonce followed up his RPGTV Puppy Derby success at Towcester – leading home a 1-2-3-4 for the McNairs – with victory at the Sussex track in leading home a top-class field in the final.

In winning the award, voted for by members of the Greyhound Writers’ Association, King Memphis edged out fellow Category One winners George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial winner Droopys Clue (Seamus Cahill) and Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup heroine Swift Silly (Harry Burton) in the vote.

Other nominees for December’s award were National Sprint victor Bombout Bullet (Belinda Green), Bet365 Challenge Cup winner Havana Top Note and British Bred Derby champion Queen Joni, the last-named pair kennelmates of King Memphis.

Clive Lawrence, executive producer of award sponsors GTV, said: “Given the way Liz and Rab McNair finished the year, it seems right one of their big end-of-year winners King Memphis won the award – and he looks a top-class Derby contender.

“We saw him progress at Oxford in the Puppy Collar and then really come of age in the Puppy Derby at Towcester. The Olympic win was very much the icing on the cake against all-aged rivals and the final at Hove was easily one of the best of the year.”

Hove racing manager Rob Abrey oversaw the gala meeting at Hove which included both the Coral Olympic and George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial finals and said King Memphis throughly deserved the monthly award, commenting:

“King Memphis was brilliant in the Olympic against some great rivals. We had high hopes for our own Hollow Man and Wasted Monday, and the likes of Newinn Syd also brought big-race form to the table, but the younger King Memphis wasn’t going to be denied.

“I also thought Memphis’s brother King Combs, who finished third, showed what a great 2024 he might also have but you’d say the major four-bend races, including the Derby, will be very much on the agenda for King Memphis.

“Well done to him, the McNairs, and the KSS Syndicate – they have a brilliant year.”

*Time Greyhound Nutrition now take over sponsorship of the Greyhound of the Month award in 2024.

GWA chairman Jonathan Hobbs said: “We thank RPGTV/GTV for their backing of the award in recent years – we have had some amazing winners – and welcome Time as new backers of an award we feel is really important for owners and trainers.”

Time Greyhound Nutrition’s Willie Rigney said: “Myself and John (Fox), who run Time, are delighted to support this award in the UK. We have a great relationship with a number of trainers in the UK, as well as in Ireland, and feel this a natural step for us.

“As an owner myself, I know how important it is for owners and trainers – and the greyhounds themselves – to gain the acknowledgement they deserve.”

Burridge Trophies will supply the monthly trophies and the GWA thank Mark Burridge for his support also.