Fahey Fires In NZ Cup Decider

It's an automatic reaction these days when it comes to New Zealand Group races – just scan the trainer's names looking for Dave and Jean Fahey and then back their greyhound(s). Chances are very high you'll be on a winner.

Take the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup for example. Last Thursday they qualified two greyhounds for New Zealand's richest greyhound race which had a $125,000 stake attached to it.

End result – a comfortable victory for Warm race favourite Bago Bye Bye with him being the eighth New Zealand Cup winner mentored by the Fahey's since 2006.

Go back to early August and Dave Fahey was lamenting that their powerful Canterbury based kennels wouldn't have any major influence in the sharp end result for the looming New Zealand Cup meeting.

His reasoning at the time was, "Anything we have for the cup is either too young (inexperienced) or spelling with injury".

They say in greyhound racing that three months is a long time with factors changing considerably and rapidly over a period of time like that.

This year's New Zealand Cup edition is classic example of how things quickly change around.

You see the former Queensland chaser Bago Bye Bye was ensconced in the Fahey kennel back in June. He had trialed over the Addington 520m distance in super style. Then bang; a pin muscle injury saw him being turned out for a six week spell.

Ha ha – roll on three months and the immense mentoring skills of the Fahey's was evident for all to witness.

Bago Bye Bye started his Kiwi racing commitment's with an almighty bang on September 21 when he delivered his superb 29.82s NZ debut 520m C1 win.

Roll onto October 19 and in his fifth race he shattered the now frequently broken Addington 520m track record with his turbo charged 29.59s gallop.

Another 520m lower grade win followed and then it was straight into the NZ Cup heats. Mission accomplished in heat one – a 29.94s win. Dido in the semi – the second fastest ever Addington 520m time at 29.63s was delivered by an effortless eight length margin.

Onto the final where the rich $62,500 winning stake was stylishly secured when completing his 520m assignment in 30 seconds flat.

There was an abundance of early pace in the final field. Using that asset from trap rise was the Lisa Cole prepared Blazin' Carter. Punching forward onto the early pace was the race second favourite the former West Australian greyhound Pinny Mack for Steve Clark. Sitting pat just in behind them was Bago Bye Bye.

It was apparent approaching the final turn that Bago Bye Bye had his rivals covered. From there he extended strongly to nail his Group 1 victory by a 1.25 length margin.

It was a pair of Craig Roberts trained greyhounds who had previously cracked the long standing Addington 520m track record. The first of them was the strong chaser Dyna Dave (29.73s).  In the NZ Cup final he had settled in the rear group. From there he improved to be midfield when racing down the back straight. He unleashed strongly during the run home which saw him striding into the runner up possie.

Kicking back solidly was a real brave Blazin' Carter and the ex-New South Wales chaser held onto the third placing another 2.5 lengths behind.

"We're very proud of Bago Bye Bye and thrilled for his Brisbane owner Greg Watts. We didn't think he would be ready in time (NZ Cup). I was told when he arrived that he is a very quick greyhound – he has certainly proved that to us. I thought he had his rivals covered at the end of the back straight.," commented Dave Fahey.

"He was formerly trained by Darren Russell in Wauchope (northern New South Wales), however he was raced in Queensland. Greg stays in frequent contact with us and he was totally rapt with this win.

"We'll aim Bago towards the Spion Rose Cup now (December 8, Group 1) and then possibly look at longer race distances for him," added Dave Fahey about the 48th Group 1 winner the couple has mentored. Their overall Group racing training successes now sits at an impressive 103 training successes victories.

Galaxy Sprint

It was anticipated to be a straight out speed dual in the final of the $35,000 The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint. And so it proved to be.

Winning the break from the six trap was the Dave and Jean Fahey prepared race favourite Sheza Rippa for her Australian owners, Punters HQ.

The red racing vest worn by Sir Duggie was sighted quickly punching up along the rail for his conditioner Lisa Cole. The race second fav didn't require a second invitation and it was the sharp Friday Hatrick 305m sprinter who seized the race lead going into the turn.

At that point Sheza Rippa and the Alison Lee prepared Chitina Tin brushed and that allowed Sir Duggie to extend into what turned into the vital winning break.

From there the former New South Wales trainer sprinter dashed clear and while Sheza Rippa charged at him late he held a clear three quarter length margin at the judge after 17.05s of power sprinting.

Chitina Tin maintained his solid sprint and he was rewarded with the third placing a further 2.75 lengths behind.

"He's a very sharp sprinter who is right up there with our other Galaxy winners. It was a top effort by Sir Duggie as he slipped when coming out onto the mat. He has great midrace pace and using that won the Galaxy for him," said Brendon Cole.