It was a Dave and Jean Fahey training double when they mentored both 545m heat winners for the Group 2 Colin Keen Memorial on Forbury Park last week. The recent imported Aussie chaser Shallay Pallay took out the first heat, while the promising Junk Mail prevailed in the other heat. The couple also produced two of the five NZRS Novice heat winners held on the support card.

Pictured: Shallay Pallay delivering his Colin Keen Memorial 545m heat win (pic Dave Robbie)

It was the Fahey prepared pair of heat contenders who led the field out in the first of the 545m heats. Cactus Jack took them around the first turn, stalked by Shallay Pallay. Chasing the kennel mates at this stage was Nozzno fear for Ashley Bradshaw, along with the Craig Roberts trained Penalty Bale.

Shallay Pally strongly railed underneath Cactus Jack when rounding the final turn and he kicked clear to stylishly take out the heat in 32.86s. Cactus Jack gamely held onto second a length behind, while holding a three quarter length margin over the third placed Penalty Bale. Finishing strongly was Southern Lights, who bounded into fourth late for Roy Hamilton and by doing so he relegated Nozzno Fear back onto the reserves bench for the final.

The Fahey’s helped themselves to three final field positions from the second heat. It was Junk Mail who set the pace into the first turn, with the reserve runner Crotty chasing him around the turn for Bradshaw. There was a jam up in the midfield pack in behind them which included the pace makers kennel mates Shreddin’ and Opawa Timo, along with the Ray Adcock prepared race favourite Tom Tee. Helski Bale, who was to feature at the business end of this heat, was a conspicuous last at this point for Roberts.

Junk Mail remained fully in control of the pace which translated into a 32.85s heat win when holding a 2.25 length margin over his rivals. It was a full on paw wrestle between four other chasers for the balance of the placings. Helski Bale had improved his field position when racing down the back straight by sticking hard on the rail. He was rewarded for using that smart racing tactic by finishing second.

A further three quarters of length behind in third was Opawa Timo who pressed on stoutly and in doing so he shaded his kennel mate Shreddin’ by quarter of a length. Tom Tee finished just alongside him in fifth, meaning he will occupy the reserves bench for the January 30 final.
 

Colin Keen Memorial finalists includes (from left): Junk Mail, Southern Lights; Opawa Timo
 

NZRS Novice heats

It was Classy Witch who extended strongly from the midfield pack to claim the first of the five 545m NZRS Novice heats for her conditioner Gary Cleeve when she delivered her handy 33.07s win. Goldstar Jagger is a staying chaser from the Steve and Bonnie Evans kennels and he used his known staying strength to rush home late for his second placing here.

Opawa Purdie has shown a fair amount of potential from a limited number of race starts for Dave and Jean Fahey. He confirmed his promise by dictating the pace to his heat rivals when delivering his bold 33.04s heat win, which turned into the fastest from the five heats contested. Joining him in the January 30 final will be the Cleeve trained Know Conclusion who ran on for his second placings 2.5 lengths behind.

Cleeve was to the fore again in the third heat where he produced Know Leave to stylishly win that heat. He had settled in the rear group prior to quickly improving his field position which ultimately saw him striding home for his 33.62 heat win. Homebush Boden was bold for John McInerney who had set the pace for the greater majority of the 545m trip before yielding by just a half length margin. Unofficially he will be the second reserve for the final.

It was back to the Fahey’s again in the fourth heat where they produced Peekay Shout to deliver his 33.27s heat win. He produced his normal solid finish when leading home another from the Evans’ kennel in Goldstar Chief who was 4.5 lengths further adrift. He will become the finals first reserve (unofficial).

Onto the final heat where we saw the Dave Kingston prepared Gorm The Great claiming the win from the pace making Aroha, from the Ray Adcock kennels, when clocking 33.43s for his heat win. This pair had the race virtually to themselves when setting up the pace and there was a 1.25 length margin between them.
 

Forbury Park NZRS Novice heat winners included from left: Know Leave with handler Alan Johnston; co-trainer Jean Fahey handled Peekay Shout for his heat win; Dave Kingston will be returning with his charge Gorm The Great for the final - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
 

By Peter Fenemor