Seven of the last eleven Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup winners has been mentored from the Dave and Jean Fahey kennels. On Thursday evening on their home Addington Raceway track they will box away two greyhounds for the nation’s richest greyhound race with this edition carrying a record $125,000 stake.
Pictured: Bago Bye Bye delivering his swift 29.63s NZ Cup semi win (pic Dave Robbie)
Bago Bye Bye ($2.10, TAB Final Field, option 909) has been electric since he entered the Fahey kennels sizzling through his 520m Addington assignments which includes his turbo charged 29.59s 520m track record four races ago.
He has maintained that slick form during this New Zealand Greyhound Cup series with his sharp heat (29.94s) and semi (29.63s) wins. He will be loaded away into the one trap for this assignment.
“Yes, he’s very exciting. It’s the first time he’s got a decent draw since we got him. The interesting part will be what happens going into the first turn. If Bago is positioned up handy to the pace, then yes, his strength can carry him through,” commented Dave Fahey who also advised their charge is all set to deliver the race of his career on Thursday.
The Fahey’s have also qualified Mr. Matt ($15) for the decider after he was run down by three quarters of length in his semi by Dyna Dave. This bloke is one of just two Kiwi bred greyhounds in this field therefore he is also chasing after the $1000 Breeders bonus that’s on offer for the first NZ bred greyhound to finish this Group 1 race. “He has done a great job in a short time. His draw (trap three) is good for him and he is capable of racing handy to the pace. He’s all set to go on Thursday,” advised Dave Fahey.
Pinny Mack ($2.80) is a real serious greyhound and he is a genuine prospect of securing his second Group 1 victory within a couple of months in this event after having won the Waterloo Cup at the Manukau Stadium.
He has quickly adapted to the Addington circuit where, after his bold track debut NZ Cup heat second, he cruised to his effortless 29.94s NZ Cup semi win. It is his searing midrace sectionals that stands out this fella from his rivals. We saw that when he reached the back mark in 17.62s, the quickest from the four semis.
“I feel Pinny has more improvement in him on that track. I’m rapt with the way he has handled the series so far and I’m convinced he’ll go to the traps on Thursday spot on. He is coping with the travel brilliantly and using his quick midrace sectional says it will be over to the others to catch him,” suggested Clark. His charge is ideally drawn in the two trap.
Blazin’ Carter ($10) has been living up to his first name and he has been blazing through his first sectionals for his trainer Lisa Cole. We saw that when he cut out his first sectional in a fast 5.73s, the quickest semi clock and that pace ensures he can be sighted vying for the early pace. He returned 30.03s when delivering his semi win after his track debut heat third when he was run down late.
There is a slight concern for him and others drawn inside him as he tends to veer left during the early rush. “He improved real good from his heat into his semi and I reckon there’s more improvement in him for the final. The concern I have is his draw, but you can’t do anything about that. He has come through his races down there in great nick,” advised Brendon Cole.
His litter sister Blazin’ Audrey ($24) is the NZ Cup first reserve. She was bold when delivering her heat and semi third placings with both of them being behind Dyna Dave. Take a look at her in race ten if she doesn’t get a start here.
A month ago local trainer Craig Roberts would have been an odds on favourite to mentor the NZ Cup winner such is the firepower of quality 520m greyhounds he has in his kennels. He now heads into the decider with the poorly drawn NZ Cup third and fifth favourites.
Dyna Dave ($6) is a potent chaser with the best part of his 520m races being his strong run home times. He also displays great track sense which if he lands handy to the pace, then by using that asset he can make the race finish really interesting. It’s his lack of early pace that is the concern for this 30.22s semi final winner here.
“He’s running for luck going into and around the first turn. Hopefully he can get a clean drag into the race and if he does, then he can make things interesting over the later stages,” said Roberts who will box him away into trap four.
The other three Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup semi winners were (from left): Pinny Mack; Blazin’ Carter; Dyna Dave – pics Dave Robbie
Conversely kennelmate Dirk Bale ($11.50) is a renowned lid pinger and it is that asset that he must use when he exits from trap five on Thursday. The current Auckland Cup title holder took out his heat in 30.12s, then he chased home Blazin’ Carter 2.25 lengths astern of him in his semi.
“Dirk has no option but to lead them into the first turn. If he does and if there’s any sort of trouble behind him, then yes he can pinch a break on them,” confirmed Roberts. “Both of my guys are all set for Thursday,” he added.
Roberts also has a more than handy type occupying the second possie on the reserves bench. Avenger Bale ($10) started as last year’s NZ Cup favourite when he was an inexperienced youngster. Since then he has fashioned himself into a very versatile greyhound as seen by him jumping as one of the favourites in the meeting feature 732m staying race (race 11).
Robert’s son Matt will be loading away his charge Quistis Bale ($66) into the eight trap on Thursday. She was solid in the manner that she boldly chased after the pace setting, freewheeling Piny Mack for her four length heat second to him. She must push forward onto the early pace from the jump here.
“I guess having a change of scenery has helped to spark her up. Her flowing semi run was more like her old self. Her draw won’t overly worry her and she can stay out of trouble being out there. I guess she’s a rough place chance,” suggested Matt Roberts.
As far as he is concerned Mark Robinson has already won his New Zealand Cup purely by qualifying his charge David’s Legacy ($91) to contest it. It was a marvellous training effort by this industry grass roots participant just to make it this far – a victory for the smaller kennels. Sure he’s at outsized odds to win this event, however he does have a shot at securing the $1000 Breeders bonus payment by being the first of the two NZ bred greyhounds to finish in this final.
“I’m absolutely rapt with him making the NZ Cup final – just getting into the field is like winning it for me. Box speed counts a lot that was what got him into the final. I’m quite happy with his box draw (trap seven) as I reckon he can stay out of trouble from out there. He has been full of beans since his semi and I couldn’t be happier with him going into Thursday,” said Robinson.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup finalist includes (from left): Mr. Matt, Dirk Bale; Quistis Bale; David’s Legacy and reserves Blazin’ Audrey; Avenger Bale
By Peter Fenemor
