STRIKE IT SKYE underlined her exceptional talent with an exhilarating display in The Jimmy Wright Future Stars Puppy Trophy Final at Newcastle on Saturday.

The 480m event played the chief supporting role to the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup Final on a night Jimmy Wright, the late partner of trainer Angela Harrison, was remembered not just with the Category Two competition but a host of other races named after former stars of the track he and Angela trained.

These included their All England Cup champions and the likes of Walshes Hill and Droopys Expert, the latter pertinent given his fast times over the 480m trip – and matched by Strike It Skye’s 28.06sec return on Saturday, one of the fastest ever runs at the Byker venue. Droopys Shearer (2001) holds the track record of 27.90sec.

Soon in command, the Mark Wallis-trained, MWD Partnership-owned January 2024 daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Peckies Flyer was away and on her way to a comfortable five and a quarter lengths success in a double-quick time.

Runner-up was local hope Crafty Regalo (Carl Jackson) who crossed the line ahead of third-placed Kinsley tracker Bouncing Monarch (David Fradgley).

The victory delighted winning trainer Wallis, who said: “I’m not sure I remember a bitch of ours to go down the back straight as Strike It Syke, but her all-round game is coming together nicely, too. She always stayed strongly, but is showing more early pace and that will serve her well in all the major four-bend races – and that includes the Derby.

“If anything her form at Towcester overall is better than Dunstall Park, although she was a touch unlucky in the semis of the Oaks this time around, stumbling at the start.

“But the English Derby might well be a plan for her. She’s got a good profile for that you’d say. She didn’t clear the clearest of runs in the (bet365) Empress Stakes final but still finished third and that’s what you need in a Derby. She’s always going to have two bites at the cherry and in a long competition that can be vital.”

Ian Walton, Newcastle general manager, congratulated the winner’s connections.

“Well done to Mark (Wallis) and Mike (Davis, part-owner and Towcester promoter), she’s some bitch and an appropriately top class winner of this, a competition named in Jimmy’s (Wright) memory,” he said. “Losing Jimmy to motor neurone disease earlier this year was devastating for Angela (Harrison), the families, and Jimmy’s friends – and also to us here at Newcastle where he was always known as a gentleman.

“I’m just delighted Angela was able to be here with us. Naming the supporting races after dogs he and Angela have been associated with over so many years seemed right.

“On a night we also staged the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup Final, the north-east’s Derby, Strike It Skye (The Jimmy Wright Future Stars Puppy Trophy) and Santas Amigo (Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup) were two fantastic winners.”