RIOJA OISIN added a new track record and a new major trophy to his CV when racing away for glory in the final of the UK’s only Category One sprint competition, the Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver at Central Park on Saturday.

Trained by Kevin Hutton for Jackie Brown and Paul and Sarah Woodburn and already winner last year of the two-bend scene’s traditional sprinters’ Classic, the Arc Scurry Gold Cup at Perry Barr where he also set a new track record for the 275m trip in November, Rioja Oisin completed a fantastic return to the track in landing the £12,500 prize.

Off the track since making the final of the Arc National Sprint at Nottingham in December, Rioja Oisin had pushed the-then track record holder King Presley close in a warm-up race for the Kent Silver Salver at the Sittingbourne venue and continued to come forward through the sprinters’ annual after winning his heat in runaway fashion.

However, reserving his best start in the competition for the final, Rioja Oisin was soon in contention alongside fast-trapping but wide-running Ballinakill Liam (Mark Wallis). Saving valuable ground with his inside line from the two-box, the eventual winner railed into the lead approaching the first bend and was away.

With Ballinakill Liam wider on the track but clear of the chasing pack, it was between this pair but Hutton’s powerful sprinter was not for stopping now in the full flow with a race against the clock – which he won!

Crossing the line two and a half lengths clear of Ballinakill Liam and third placed Beaming Isla (Maxine Locke), Rioja Oisin stopped the clock in 16.01sec (-20) for the 277m trip, clipping one spot off the previous best held by King Presley (Liz McNair), another Silver Salver finalist on Saturday.

A delighted winning trainer Hutton said: “It’s been well documented how much we need to work with Oisin. He’s one of the fastest dogs I’ve ever put a lead on but it’s tricky to get him right, but we’ve done a decent enough job I think. That’s 11 wins from just 16 races now and a lot of the credit must go to Donna (Witchalls, partner).

“I’m delighted for his owners Paul, Sarah and Jackie,” added Hutton. “They’re great supporters of the kennel and follow their pride and joy all over the country, along with the others they have with me. They’re very much based out of Oxford so it seems right we look at the Pall Mall now, and will keep him gently ticking over in between!

“So the plan is definitely to step him back up in trip. He came over to us having won over 525yd at Cork and actually won his first two races for us over 450m at Oxford – winning a maiden competition. But then we had the wrist issue with him and that’s needed to be managed and means he’s not had as many as races as you’d expect for his age.

“But then it’s been quality over quantity since and making the finals of the Scurry, National Sprint and now the Silver Salver – and, of course, winning the Scurry and Silver Salver makes him one of the best sprinters in recent years. However, he’s strong over two bends and returning to a short four bends at Oxford must be the plan now.

“I actually thought he had an excellent chance of being Sprinter of the Year last year, although Magical Bluebear is a superb sprinter himself. We’d won the Scurry but he’d won the Silver Salver last year – and that’s a Cat One. We actually sat on the same table as the Russells at the Awards and you couldn’t take anything away from them.

“They deserved it – and, while there’s a long way to go in the year, winning the same event makes us think we’ve got a chance in 2025!”

Photos: © Steve Nash