KING MEMPHIS capped an incredible week for the KSS Syndicate and Liz and Rab McNair by claiming their ninth Category One title during the 2023 – and their fourth in a week – with victory in the £10,000 Coral Olympic Final at Hove on Saturday.

After wins for Queen Dusty and Queen Joni in the Bet365 Puppy Oaks at Towcester and BGBF British Bred Derby at Sheffield, and then Havana Top Note’s success in the Bet365 Challenge Cup Final at Oxford on Friday, it was turn of King Memphis to fly the flag successfully for the McNairs and the KSS Syndicate of Brendan Keogh, Simon Senyk and Ian Openshaw.

A home-bred December 21 son of Droopys Sydney and Queen Beyonce and already winner of the RPGTV Puppy Derby, King Memphis reached the semi-finals of the Produce Stakes at Swindon in the September before running a close-up second to Long Fellow in the RPGTV Puppy Collar Final at Oxford. As Rab McNair said, the youngster has come a long way in a short space of time.

“He’s been great and, really, right from the start we knew he was special. To run a good bitch of Mark’s (New Destiny) so close in his very first race at Towcester was something and he was going well in the Swindon, just missing out on the final in third and running off.

“He then showed incredible pace in the Oxford final and was probably a touch unlucky, but that’s racing and Matt’s dog did it right on the night. Hove was his first all-aged competition and he’s not been fazed by that – he’s taken on and beaten the older dogs and is probably as good as anything we’ve ever had.

“Postie (Fromposttopillar) covered the ground like no greyhound I’ve put a lead on, but this boy has so much speed. He also stays well, so when you put it together it makes him very special. We hope he gets some recognition at the GBGB Awards because of what an impressive he’s made, winning two Cat Ones and going close in another.

“We’re having a few days off. We’re still working at the kennels – greyhound people know that it never stops – but we’re all around now. I’m not on the road and nor is Liz – and Central Park is our local track not far away so the (Arc) Cesarewitch will be good for some of ours. But it’s all about building up to the Derby for Memphis.

“He came away well in the Hove final but is probably not doing it enough – we’ll try and improve that side of him but, as Brendan (Keogh) says, he’s a proper dog and the best we’ve bred. He’s a Towcester dog – and so is King Combs.”

For the record, King Memphis trapped well in the Olympic final and showed his trademark burst of early pace to head the field into the bend despite pressure from both Newinn Syd and chief mark rival Hollow Man before going on to score by a length and three-quarters from the former, the Eclipse winner, in 29.87sec (-20) for the 515m trip.

The victory landed a quickfire family double given King Memphis’s litter sister Queen Shakira raced away off the first bend to win the supporting Coral Christmas 500 Trophy Final for the same owner-trainer combination – after Droopys Clue (see story) had annexed the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial Final, the other Category One on the card for Seamus Cahill.