Fahey's Devonport Cup Power In Numbers

IT'S a terrific feat to get one runner into a group race final, let alone two.

But that's the scenario facing respected trainer Gary Fahey who boasts a two-pronged attack on next Tuesday's Dowling McCarthy Tyres Devonport Cup Final (452m) with litter sisters Sacred Shadow and Just Browsing.

Sacred Shadow, one of the most consistent performers going around in Tassie, will line up from box eight in the Group 3 $25,000 to-the-winner feature. The daughter of My Bro Fabio qualified for the final with an impressive heat success, charging late to defeat top fancies Huxley and Fernando Drums by one and a half lengths.

Clocking a red-hot 25.60, Tuesday's heat effort brought up her tenth career victory from 35 starts.

Continuing an amazing run of success being enjoyed by progeny from dam Dennes Point, following next Tuesday no less than five of her offspring will have competed in Devonport Cup Finals, including Breaker's Tip (x Mogambo), a gallant second to Keune in the 2015 finale.

"I couldn't be any happier with both girls," Gary Fahey said of the My Bro Fabio littermates.

"There is a difference between the two ability wise as Sacred Shadow is stronger where Just Browsing can do it at both ends and has quality box manners. With Sacred Shadow out wide I thought she was going to find it hard there at one stage of the race. There was quite a gap going through the first turn and she took the run and just used everything to her advantage."

Top-class bitch Just Browsing started a heat winning double for Mangalore-based Fahey, who was extremely pleased with the smart return of his star performer, jumping straight to the front to lead all-the-way in a slick 25.72, defeating Hello Rhonda and Hogwash.

"Just Browsing is resuming off a 13-week break and hasn't gone any further than 300-metres recently, we gave her a run back at Hobart over the 340-metres and she went great. I have no-doubt that she will be a lot better for the run heading into the final," Fahey added.

The box draw for next week's time-honoured feature sees fastest qualifier Despacito, from the kennels of Mangalore trainer Mick Stringer, drawn in box five, after a slashing 25.40 heat winning-effort.

Gary Fahey's smart pair have drawn out wide off the track, with Just Browsing in seven and Sacred Shadow in eight. Fahey is hoping for Just Browsing to get lucky early in transit and get a crack at the lead.

"I would have liked to have seen them both drawn down closer to the rail but between the two I'd say Just Browsing would be the best chance knowing Emerald Rainbow (six) is a slow beginner and will give our girl enough room to get a cart across down to the rail," detailed Gary.

"We have made the Devonport Cup a few times – it's a privilege and these girls will do us proud."

Box Draw: Lenard's Boy 1, Corykodi 2, Hello Nugget 3, Zipping Blaze 4, Despacito 5, Emerald Rainbow 6, Just Browsing 7, Sacred Shadow 8  Reserves: Fernando Drums and Buckle Up Axon.