The Barron’s Supplies South Island Champs final on Friday evening possibly could have a lot more riding on it than just a Group 2 win for the victor.
Pic: Opawa Shackley winning last year’s South Island Champs for her trainers Dave and Jean Fahey (pic Dave Robbie)
Leading Canterbury greyhound trainers Dave and Jean Fahey have qualified three finalists for the $15,000 decider. It is quite likely they will parade their charges to the Addington 520m traps for the race 10 event sitting on a phenomenal 99 Group race training victories. Let us repeat that – the husband and wife training partnership has applied the finishing touches to 99 greyhound Group race winners.
Yes, they receive an opportunity of bringing up the coveted Black type century in the prior race on Friday’s card. They have qualified two runners for the Christchurch Casino NZ Stayers Cup. Can they mentor the winner of the 732m staying test at Group 1 level? Of course they can, however realistically the previous week’s pair of heats suggests there are other stayers in that field who are more likely to prevail in it.
So that brings us to the 8.32pm Group 2 South Island Champs final where last year’s winner Opawa Shackley, the current NZ Cup title holder American Warrior, along with the promising youngster Fair Pippa will represent the Fahey kennels,
It will be entirely appropriate for the Fahey’s to produce their 100th Group race winner in the South Island Champs, which is the last Group race to be decided for the current season. It was back in 2003 when they trained Egyptian Gold to victory in the race which was their very first Group race training success. They have since gone on to mentor another seven winners of the race.
Opawa Shackley ($5 TAB Final Field market - option 981) is returning to defend the South Island Champs title that she so professionally won last year. She completed her heat assignment last week four lengths astern of Tom Tee. Further improvement can be expected by this Opawa Racing team owned and bred winner of $164,167. She has been sparingly raced lately and has just resumed racing after a lengthy spell.
She has been allocated the eight trap to step away from on Friday. She owns a remarkable record when sighted wearing the pink racing vest, having carried it to victory on six occasions from seven races (one minor placing). “We’re hoping she can begin quickly, take the early race lead, then go down towards the rail. She is likely to be improved from her heat race, which was a month after her fresh up win,” suggested Dave Fahey.
Kennelmate American Warrior ($2.70) has astounding track and trap seven stats. He has been around the Addington 520m trip seven times – he has returned as the race winner in all of them. He has exited from the seven trap on eleven occasions – he won nine of those (placed in the other two). He was bold when displaying great track sense, to win his heat in 30.46s.
He is another likely improver as last week saw him resuming from a short let up. “Yes, he went real good in his heat and he’ll take benefit out of that race. The worry I have for him is Shackley on his outside. Hopefully, they will miss each other when leaving their traps,” said Fahey.
Perhaps Fair Pippa ($9) is the forgotten dog from the Fahey kennels. She has contested strong recent races at Group level. She was bold when she pressed on during the run home for her 2.25 length heat third behind American Warrior. Slotting away into trap two is likely to assist her as she also owns sound stats (6-4-2) from that trap.
“She has a good draw, although she needs to be in the lead group rounding the first turn. She is capable and she can run time with the right type of run. All three of our runners have come through their heats good,” confirmed Fahey. A victory by Fair Pippa will be fitting, as she is owned by the I Pave Opawa syndicate.
The two high profile I Pave Concrete and Opawa Racing syndicates have combined in the ownership of her – it is those two syndicates who have provided the Fahey’s with the bulk of their Group race winning greyhounds.
The three Dave and Jean Fahey-trained Barron’s Supplies South Island Champs finalists: American Warrior, seen winning his heat (pic Dave Robbie); Opawa Shackley; Fair Pippa
Okay, there are five other classy greyhounds who will contest this final and the winning claims owned by any them here certainly cannot be lightly dismissed.
Tom Tee ($2.80) is a proven, competitive Addington 520m chaser for his conditioner Ray Adcock, who holds sound prospects of training both Group race winners during the evening. He also displayed track sense when he angled down onto the rail after jumping from trap four in his heat to rail through underneath his rivals which translated into his bold 30.30s heat win.
Drawing the ace trap has strongly enhanced his winning claim here. “We were hoping for that draw and we got it. Tom likes the rail and he will stick to it. He has very good run home times. He is a young dog with ongoing potential and he pulled up great from his heat,” said Adcock about his charge. This mentor has also trained a considerable number of Group race winners spanning numerous decades.
Local trainer Craig Roberts is also no stranger to greyhound Group race wins, having also provided a wide range of Black type winners. He has put himself in a sound position to add another title in this event after having qualified half of the drawn field.
Ride Ain’t Over ($9) ensured that the three trainers involved in this final are represented by heat winners. He displayed his trademark powerful finish to land his 30.33s heat win. His run home time was the quickest from the heats and watch out if this recent Addington 520m Group 2 winner is sighted lurking handy to the pace when approaching the home turn.
“As usual for me, my dogs have drawn rubbish traps for a Group race final. Ride Ain’t Over is very strong and it will be what type of racing luck he receives going into the first turn that’ll decide his race – hopefully he’ll get a clear passage. He has been jumping better lately and I’ll like to see him getting into a handy early possie. What I do know is that nothing will run home faster than him,” said Roberts.
Barron’s Supplies South Island Champs heat winners Tom Tee (left) and Ride Ain’t Over, plus finalist Allen Hadrian (pics Dave Robbie)
Howie Bale ($14) has been contesting the early pace in his recent Addington 520m assignments. We saw that in his heat where he led around the first turn and down the back straight before he yielded to American Warrior when winding up 1.5 lengths behind him. It is that early pace that he must employ when jumping away from trap three here.
“He is the quickest beginner of mine here. If he jumps like he has been then he should be the leader around the first turn, which he must do as he isn’t strong over the later stages. He has been slightly heavy lately and taking a bit (weight) of him should see him peaking nicely on Friday,” Roberts advised.
Allen Hadrian ($21) certainly deserves to contest this event, considering his luckless recent run of feature race finals. He continues to draw poorly, being required to jump from trap five here. He settled just behind the early pace in his heat from where he kicked on stoutly to nail his 3.25 length second to kennelmate Ride Ain’t Over.
“He’s a good dog ability wise, but he isn’t quite up there with the very best of them. He always gives his all – you know he will be trying all the way. He will also be reliant on receiving early racing luck,” commented Roberts.
After settling in the midfield pack Helski Bale ($26) picked his way past a couple of rivals which saw him arriving home 4.5 lengths astern of Tom Tee in third place. “He is in the same boat as my others in needing early luck from there (trap six). He has been used to nice draws lately – this one isn’t. His early speed is okay, which he must use,” added Roberts. “All have come through their heats really good and all have worked up well during the week.”
When asked which of his quartet of finalists he considers is his leading chance Roberts responded with, “Ability wise it’s definitively Ride Ain’t Over. From the draws they have, then Howie Bale has drawn the best of them (when considering racing styles).”
It is the Invercargill-based, Roy Hamilton trained Southern Lights ($18) who occupies the first place on the reserves bench. He had to overcome traffic issues prior to him delivering his solid heat finish which landed him in third, 4.75 lengths behind Ride Ain’t Over.
The quickest of the heat fourth place finishers, therefore being allocated the second reserve spot was the John McInerney prepared Cosmic Odette ($21). She owns slick early pace and it was that asset the recent NZ Oaks winner used when leading her rivals around the first turn prior to fading over the concluding stages.
Classy recent Barron’s Supplies South Island Champs winners (from left): Dyna Vikkers; Dream Collector; Know Attempt
By Peter Fenemor
