SHADOW STORM stormed to a thrilling victory in the Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup Final at Dunstall Park on Friday – completing a notable family hat-trick in the process.

On a night the sport’s newest venue hosted a magnificent night’s action featuring the finals of the traditional sprinters’ Classic and the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks, it was Shadow Storm who came out on top in the Category Two final.

Winning trainer Richard Rees’s father and grandfather both won the Scurry, the original sprinters’ Classic, during their careers with Phil Snr landing the spoils with the brilliant Xmas Holiday in 1976 and Philip scoring with Longcross Smokey in 1981, both at Slough.

Adding a third Rees victory to the famous roll of honour, Shadow Storm reversed form with fourth-placed Bockos Buster (Kevin Boon) after their semi-final clash.

“That was definitely more like it,” said Charlie Rees, son of the Hove-based trainer, “and I’m just delighted for the dog himself and Marc (White, owner). He hadn’t been beaten far in the semis but I was massively disappointed and knew there was better to come.

“Thankfully, he’s shown what he’s all about and deserves to win this. That’s six wins from eight starts since he’s joined us and he’s just got so much speed.”

Lining up as the 13-8 favourite against reigning champion Rioja Oisin (Kevin Hutton), it was the latter’s kennelmate Jazzy George who broke in front and led into the turn. However, Shadow Storm was also soon in top gear and joined issue rounding the opening two bends before forging ahead off the second turn.

Holding the advantage all the way to the line, the July 2023 son of Ballymac Best and Kilara Jessie finished a head in front of Jazzy George and the gallant and keeping-on Rioja Oisin, last year’s winner, a further neck behind in a driving finish for the £7,500 decider.

“Fair play to Charlie, he spotted him and I bought him very much on his recommendation,” said Marc White, Shadow Storm’s owner. “He’s just a great dog to own, has a fantastic will-to-win, and it’s great to win a famous trophy like the Scurry Gold Cup.”

First staged at the old Clapton Stadium, London, in 1928, the Scurry Gold Cup is one of the sport’s oldest competitions and Friday’s conclusion of the 2025 running was a first staging of the event at Dunstall Park, taking over from its previous home at Perry Barr, and run alongside the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks for a major double-header.