“The South Island Champs has always been a special race for us with it being the first Group race we trained the winner off,” commented co-trainer Jean Fahey who with husband Dave mentored their ninth Barron’s South Island Championship winner when Fair Pippa stylishly prevailed for the couple at the Addington Raceway last Friday evening.
Pictured: Fair Pippa delivering her Barron’s South Island Championship victory (pic Dave Robbie)
Fair Pippa, who finished third in last year’s Barron’s South Island Championship, won the $15,825 Group 2 event at trap rise when she seized the early race lead. It was a lead that she was never going to relinquish as she maintained a solid gallop throughout her 520m assignment, greeting the judge to claim her 22nd career win after 30.46s of hard out chasing.
It was a Fahey trained quinella as kennel mate Panel Beater kept up a bold gallop to claim his second placing when he finished stoutly a length and a half behind. Delivering the race of his career was the Ashley Bradshaw prepared Crotty, who after jumping handy to the early pace, pressed on boldly for his third placing another two lengths astern. Finishing resolutely from an early rear group position another length and a quarter back was Rockstar Kobe for Craig Roberts.
Race favourite Dirk Bale (Roberts) made a moderate race start (by his standards) from trap six and after attempting to improve going down the back straight, he then got tangled up in some midfield traffic. Another favoured contender Egomaniacal (Fahey’s) got caught up in some jostling when going into the first turn.
Barron’s South Island Championship winner Fair Pippa with; handler Jack Johnston (left), Opawa Racing team members Graham Campbell, Ron Todd & Robin Wales (back row); race day handler Katie Wylie, co-trainer Jean Fahey and Anthony Tregurtha; second placed Panel Beater and third placed Crotty
It was a “home team” victory for the Fahey’s as Fair Pippa was bred by and is raced by the I Pave Opawa Syndicate which is an amalgamation of the long time Fahey kennel clients I Pave Concrete and Opawa Racing syndicates. They also picked up the Breeders bonus payment with Fair Pippa obviously being the first of the Kiwi bred greyhounds to finish in this Group race final
Fair Pippa, who is a daughter of the February 2015 born pup by Barcia Bale from Jinja Power, was whelped and reared at the Fahey’s Sefton based rearing facility by their daughter Sarah and her partner Anthony Tregurtha. Fair Pippa has now joined her litter brother Vikings as a Group race winner as he won the 2017 edition of the Group 2 Canterbury Futurity.
“It’s an absolute thrill to carry on with the breeding line as we also bred Jinja Power. Her litter was the first to be whelped and reared by Sarah and Anthony at our rearing property,” advised Jean Fahey, who added, “Dave gave Fair Pippa a wee break and she came back for this race where she showed her determination to win her heat and now the final. It is always a big thrill for us to win the South Island Champs.”
Husband Dave had scarpered away from the course with the earlier race dogs to get home to watch the Warriors and their unfortunate defeat, which prompted Jean to chuckle, “Graham would have been real proud of Dave doing that.” She was referring to the long term late industry participant Graham Barron, a long time Warriors supporter, who under his business name Barron Supplies sponsored the South Island Championships for many, many years. It is a tradition that has carried on with wife Denise who remains as the deputy chairman of the Christchurch GRC Board.
Race day handler Katie Wylie has been associated with the Fahey kennel for numerous years. She handled Fair Pippa when she finished third last year and did likewise for this victory. “I was stoked when Pippa jumped in front – I knew then that there wouldn’t be any other threat to her. It’s her determined nature as she won’t let another dog get past her when she’s in front. Pippa really deserved this win and it is a huge thrill for me as a handler as I’ve handle her throughout her career,” said Wylie about the winner of the traditionally strong Barron’s South Championship which is now the final Group race of the greyhound racing season.
Fair Pippa has now contested 53 races, which has yielded her with 22 wins and 10 minor placings. Her stake earnings now sit at a tidy $63,755.
There was a strong support card to the Christchurch Group race double header meeting. Here’s a pictorial run up from those keenly contested undercard races.
Steve and Bonnie Evans commenced the meeting by training Kalonga to victory in the C3 295m sprint; It was an early winning double for trainer Lisa Waretini who prepared Ohoka Clare to win the C4 295m dash and then immediately struck again with the C3 295m winner Jaded Affair with both of her winners being handled by her daughter and co-owner Alysha.
Malcolm Grant produced Come A Guster to lead throughout for his C3 295m victory, with it being his first win since he crossed the Tasman for his owing Punters HQ syndicate; Local trainer Bruce Dann was able place firstly the consistent sprinter Fired Up Jasper (C5 295m) and then later on Full Speed on the top of the Addington podium after his C4 520m win
Rosemary Blackburn prepared Danziger to win his C4 295m sprint, seen here with her niece Skye Chambers; It was a powerful pace making display that the Robin Wales mentored Opawa Racer produced when she easily prevailed in the 645m event, seen here at a crowded podium; Hankenstein continued with his march up the grades for Ashley Bradshaw pictured here with her partner Pete Seque; handler Bobby Blackburn looks pleased with himself after he brought back the last race C5 295m winner Platinum Marshall to the podium for his trainer Craig Roberts
By Peter Fenemor
