Cup Night Review
Fahey’s add to Group race training victories
Pic caption – One Hot Bandit delivering his powerful Springston Hotel New Zealand Cup win. Credit Dave Robbie
The phenomenal Group race training success for Dave and Jean Fahey rolled along relentlessly during the recent Springston Hotel New Zealand Cup meeting.
The Balcairn located training base applied the finishing touches to the winners of two Group 1 races during the evening, plus they also mentored two other winners on the support card during the premier meeting.
One Hot Bandit completely dominated his rivals in the $100,000 Springston Hotel New Zealand Cup as evidenced by his two-length victory in the 525m event.
It was an all-the-way win delivered by the Punters HQ and Emma Potts owned One Hot Bandit as the race favourite seized the early race lead when sighted wearing the TAB 3 rug.
The anticipated match race with the classy Lisa Cole prepared second favourite He’s All Go looked likely to unfold as he gamely chased after the pace-setter when entering the first turn
Also racing in close attendance when the field headed down the back straight was the Matt Roberts trained Let Him Cook, along with another Cole prepared contender Johnny Football.
Rounding the final turn He’s All Go ranged up to One Hot Bandit, however he repelled that challenge and then extended during the run home to claim his Group 1 win after 30.01 seconds of chasing action.
In doing so he provided the Fahey’s with their astonishing 11th NZ Cup training success.
Let him Cook finished resolutely to secure the runners-up prize, while Johnny Football extended strongly to finish half-a-length further behind, while shading He’s All Go by a neck.
Dave Fahey was quick to praise others for the win, saying, “We couldn’t have achieved wins like this without our great staff, great owners and great greyhounds.”
"It took us a while to get One Hot Bandit ready to race, however we knew from his trials and his Australian form that he is a very good, strong dog.
Fahey then added, “It was a stressful day leading into the Cup. One Hot Bandit nicked a paw pad in the morning however fortunately we had it settled by the time we left for the track.”
For Potts the NZ Cup win was a dream come true for her. “"This win means everything to me. I was thrilled when Punters HQ offered me a share in One Hot Bandit and I didn't hesitate to accept.
"I'm especially pleased for my partner Daryl (McLaughlin) who has raced greyhounds with Dave and Jean for around 40-years," added Potts, during the following afternoon’s celebration session at the Fahey’s local tavern the Anglers Arms in Sefton.
It was the 20th career win for One Hot Bandit, who is a son of Barcia Bale and Nino De Oro, and along with 14 minor placings advanced his career stake earnings to $258,278 from his 43 race day outings.
Fahey confirmed that One Hot Bandit is likely to travel north for the 29 November Group 1 Spion Rose Cup heats over 520m at the Hatrick Raceway.
Opawa Marsh sprints to effortless Galaxy win
The $40,000 Suck It Up Galaxy Sprint was all over as a contest as soon as the pink racing vest worn by the Dave and Jean Fahey mentored Opawa Marsh swooped on his rivals when heading towards the turn.
It was a potent exhibition of sprinting that the Opawa Racing owned son of Aussie Infrared and Opawa Hillary delivered when he came away for his convincing five-length victory, clocking a smart 16.75 seconds for his 295m sprint.
It was a Fahey trained quinella as Very Rarely led home the chasing pack when holding a half-length margin over the strong finishing Lisa Cole prepared Big Time Atlas.
"Yes, it was all over as soon as he jumped. He normally isn't that fast out, however he is a very determined chaser who would chase through a brick wall if he had to," said Dave Fahey. “It is also very satisfying to train another Group 1 winner for Robin (Wales – Opawa Racing).
Opawa Marsh has now compiled the astounding record of winning all 14 of his Addington 295m sprints. He is also building a high career winning strike rate as seen by the 22 wins he has secured from his 29 races (two minors), which adds up to $69,268 in stake earnings.
Opawa Marsh has also proven to be an effective chaser over 457m on the one-turn tracks and owing to that his connections have aspirations on him contesting this season’s NZ Derby at the Cambridge Raceway.
Pictured: Opawa Marsh cruising to his easy Suck It Up Galaxy Sprint win Credit: Dave Robbie
Powerful NZ Stayers Cup win
Chief Dribble comprehensively outstayed his staying rivals when he delivered his powerful 7.25 length win in the $40,000 Rose & Thistle NZ Stayers Cup at Group 1 level over 732m.
The Matts Roberts trained current NZ Stayer of the Year title holder was anticipated to lead all-the-way once he jumped away from the one-trap.
However that wasn’t the case and it was the Corey Steele prepared Opawa Ingrid who set up the initial pace. She set a torrid tempo taking the field through the 295m split in a smart 17.01 seconds with Chief Dribble stalking her.
It was when approaching the starting traps again when Chief Dribble asserted his authority and from that point he cleared away from his opponents, completing his task in a tidy 42.74 seconds.
Blake confirmed his potential as a rising up and coming stayer when he extended stylishly to secure the second placing for his conditioners Dave and Jean Fahey.
Bob Pringle prepared his staying wonder Grande Vue Ace to win last year’s edition of this race and his charge finished powerfully along the rail to nail the third placing just a further three-quarters of a length behind.
“I thought he did really good considering he didn’t lead early. He’s racing like a more-dour stayer now and it was good to see him coming from behind,” advised Roberts about the son of Shima Shine and Slinky Inky.
Chief Dribble, who is the current Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar title holder, is owned by the Melbourne based Mandy Haines has now won $157,861 in stake earnings for her. That has been accumulated via 22 wins and 15 minor placings from his 53 races.
Roberts indicated that he will take Chief Dribble north to Wanganui to contest the 29 November heats for the Group 1 Wanganui Distance over the 755m trip.
Pictured: Chief Dribble delivering his potent Rose & Thistle NZ Stayers Cup win. Credit: Dave Robbie
Pawnote: The pair of Group 1 wins during the NZ Cup meeting took the total number of Group race training wins for Dave and Jean Fahey up to an outstanding 131 Black Type wins. 65 of those victories has been at the elite Group 1 level.
By Peter Fenemor