Rioja Oisin added another milestone to his burgeoning career on Saturday with a record-breaking performance in the final of the UK’s only Category One sprint race, the Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver at Central Park.

Owned by Jackie Brown along with Paul and Sarah Woodburn, the brilliant sprinter cemented his place among the top short-distance greyhounds with a commanding victory. Already a major sprint titleholder thanks to his Arc Scurry Gold Cup win at Perry Barr last year, where he also broke the 275m track record. Oisin returned to the spotlight in style, bagging the £12,500 top prize and a new record over 277m.

Off the track since reaching the final of the Arc National Sprint at Nottingham in December, the son of Droopys Sydney had hinted at a return to form with a strong prep run against then-record holder King Presley and followed it up with a dominant heat win. But he saved his very best for the final.

Breaking swiftly from the two-box, Rioja Oisin surged inside to challenge early pace-setter Ballinakill Liam, who moved wide on the run to the bend. Making full use of the rail, Oisin swept to the front approaching the turn and never looked back.

Though Ballinakill Liam stayed on well in second, he couldn’t match Rioja Oisin’s power. With Beaming Isla in third, the winner crossed the line two and a half lengths clear in 16.01sec (-20), trimming a spot off King Presley’s previous record and reaffirming his class on the big stage.

Speaking after, Kevin was full of praise: “It’s well known how much work Oisin takes. He’s one of the quickest I’ve ever handled but managing him isn’t easy—so I think we’ve done alright! That’s 11 wins from just 16 starts, and a huge amount of credit goes to Donna (Witchalls, my partner).”

Hutton added: “I’m thrilled for Jackie, Paul and Sarah. They’re wonderful owners, loyal supporters of the kennel, and follow their dogs around the country. They’re based near Oxford, so we’ll likely aim him at the Pall Mall next and keep things steady until then.

“The plan is to step him back up in trip. He arrived having won over 525 yards at Cork and took a couple of early wins over 450m at Oxford before we hit a wrist issue, which has limited his starts. But it’s been about quality over quantity since then—finals in the Scurry, National Sprint, and now the Silver Salver. And winning both the Scurry and Silver Salver definitely marks him out as one of the top sprinters in recent years.

“He’s shown strength over two bends, and we think a return to a short four-bend trip at Oxford will suit perfectly now.”

Reflecting on last season, “I felt he had a great shout for Sprinter of the Year, though Magical Bluebear was top class. We won the Scurry and they had the Silver Salver—but that’s a Cat One. We sat with the Russells at the Awards, and fair play to them—they deserved it.

“But now we’ve taken the Silver Salver too, and while there’s still a lot of 2025 ahead, we’re definitely thinking we’re in the mix this year.”