It is a Dave and Jean Fahey dominated field for Tuesday’s running of the $15,825 Colin Keen Memorial. The Canterbury couple qualified five greyhounds for the Group 2 final when two 545m heats was held on the Forbury Park track two weeks ago for this event that remembers the long term racing administrator for the southern region.
Pictured: Race day handler Kim Grant with Junk Mail following his Colin Keen Memorial heat win (pic Dave Robbie)
There was just 0.01 of a second separating the Fahey prepared heat winners with Junk Mail completing his heat assignment in 32.85s. Shallay Pallay was less than a blink behind him when recording 32.86s.
It is Shallay Pallay who has come up trumps from the box draw when this recently imported Aussie chaser was allocated the one trap to jump away from. It was from that trap that he obliged from when he dashed to his impressive New Zealand debut outing when he cut out the Addington 295m sprint trip in a smart 17.07s.
He then wore the black racing vest when he railed underneath his pace making kennelmate Cactus Jack to secure his heat win. “He is a promising chaser, who is likely to race on the pace from his draw. I expect him to have benefited from his heat race,” said Dave Fahey,
Junk Mail jumped straight onto the early pace to lead throughout for his heat win. He achieved that from trap seven and it is the same racing tactics that this bloke must adopt from trap six in the final. “If he leads out, then yes he can repeat his heat win,” advised Fahey, who said he came through his luckless Hatrick Classic heat outing all good.
The Dave and Jean Fahey prepared Colin Keen Memorial heat winners Junk Mail (left) and Shallay Pallay seen here delivering their respective wins; Co-trainer Jean Fahey with heat winner Shallay Pallay - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
Cactus Jack is a known on-the-pace greyhound. We saw that when he delivered his brave Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup second placing. He has drawn to seek out the early pace from the three trap here after delivering his length heat second to Shallay Pally. “He has to jump onto the pace and then hold the others out if doing so. He has the pace to do that,” suggested Fahey, after Cactus Jack was held wide during the early rush for positions in his Hatrick Classic heat after jumping from trap eight..
Opawa Timo just keeps on delivering competitive races as seen in his three length heat third to Junk Mail. He achieved that placing from trap two and he receives the same trap to exit from in this event. “He is always thereabouts. He is likely to take an early sit on the rail behind the pace as he’s average out (starting). He normally runs on, which is what I expect him to do here,” added Fahey.
Shreddin’ also endured a luckless Hatrick Classic heat outing after he was sighted pressing on stoutly for his heat fourth placing for this event 3.25 lengths behind Junk Mail. He is required to jump away from the five trap on Tuesday. “He will be looking for early racing luck from his draw. He normally finishes his race okay, so hopefully he’ll be handy enough to them on the home turn,” stated Fahey.
Craig Roberts did qualify two finalists, however he is venturing south with just one runner after scratching Penalty Bale. Helski Bale caught the eye in the resolute manner his finished his heat when winding up 2.25 lengths behind Junk Mail. He stylishly stuck to the rail when he quickly improved his field position in his heat. He then went onto to deliver a commanding 10.5 length Addington 520m win which he achieved in a tidy 30.18s.
“He has been going great races and he has really been working up a treat lately. He may battle a bit from out there (trap eight) however he is a definite place chance if he’s handy to then when going into the first turn, advised Roberts.
The Roy Hamilton prepared Southern Lights just keeps on delivering on the southern located tracks. He called on his staying prowess when he was sighted finishing strongly to snatch his place in this field when arriving home 3.5 lengths astern of Shallay Pallay.
“It was quite an achievement by him just to make this final. He is up against it in that field as he can’t muster the early pace that some of those younger dogs in the field has. He is on the cust of retirement and I’m taking him on a race by race basis,” explained a justifiably proud Hamilton.
Nozzno Fear will take the place vacated by Penalty Bale for his trainer Ashley Bradshaw. It was Southern Lights who cut him out of direct entry into the drawn field over the final few bounds. He is generally sighted racing on the pace which is a tactic he must employ from the four trap here. He was brave when it took a really smart type to run him down late over 457m at Ascot Park on Friday.
The second reserve Tom Tee requires no introduction about his racing talents. What that says is that this Ray Adcock prepared greyhound demands the upmost of respect if he gains the one scratching he requires to take his place in the parade to the 545m trap for this event.
By Peter Fenemor
