FAHEY WITH STRONG HAND IN SHANE YATES FINAL
Mangalore trainer Gary Fahey will have up to three runners in the $18,260 Shane Yates Memorial Cup (515m) next Monday night with Roxy Rocker, Supreme Leader and Raider’s Guide all qualifying for the final.
This follows an outstanding success for Fahey as connections landed two of the three Tasbred features with recent Hobart 599m track record holder Raider’s Guide setting the fastest qualifying time of 29.70 seconds.
“Raider’s Guide is definitely a great race dog and the career record demonstrates that, Launceston isn’t his favourite track but through ability he can handle it,” part owner Greg Fahey stated.
“Sectional times say Raider’s Guide does his best work late in the race, not blessed with great early speed.”
From box 6 in his heat last Monday night, the son of Zambora Brockie and Sacred Shadow came from the wide draw to run down the likes of Wynburn Honey and Ticket To Heaven in the straight scoring by 1-3/4 lengths.
“Drawing wide boxes on the Launceston track is difficult especially for Raider’s Guide, he had to make up extra ground coming from behind, drawing box 8 in the final next week doesn’t make things easy,” Greg said.
Victory in making it through to the $11,970 to-the-winner feature brought up his 10th win from 29 outings.
Country Oaks and Devonport Breeders Classic winner Roxy Rocker lasted to win her heat, running 30.11s.
Supreme Leader rounds out the trio of Fahey runners in the Shane Yates Memorial Cup as he qualified into the decider when finishing third by a length from box 1 to Hey Thunder and Disco Dance in the opening heat.
“Supreme Leader tore the webbing out in his foot after running in the Country Derby, he was six weeks away from the track and had only one trial in lead-up to the heats; the run was most impressive,” Greg Fahey said.
“Box 5 won’t make it easy for him in the final but he seems to handle Launceston and has a great record there.”
Greg and Gary Fahey will be looking to celebrate the life and legacy of broodmatron Dennes Point if anyone of three runners can take out the Shane Yates feature as the matriarch of their bloodline passed away recently.
Dennes Point will also be represented by the Butch Deverell-trained Disco Dance also bred by Team Fahey.
Gary Fahey is certainly no stranger to winning this feature under the previous Minister’s Gift format with Daniel’s Bay (x Talk’s Cheap) taking out the event back in 2014 on the former Devonport Showgrounds track.
The legacy of Shane Yates as both a racecaller and journalist is something Greg will never forget.
“Shane deserves to have his contribution remembered, he was a fantastic man for greyhound racing in this state, he was loved and respected by everyone and worked extremely hard calling almost at every meeting.
“Back some years ago, Shane and I would do a radio program each week, he had a great sense of humour and would always make me laugh. His passion spilled over into his race calls which made him standout on top.
“His style and skills made him a great racecaller of all three codes; Shane was taken far too soon,” Greg said.
The Shane Yates Memorial Cup Final Box Draw:
- Roxy Rocker
- Disco Dance
- Elsa Boloney
- Ticket To Heaven
- Supreme Leader
- Hey Thunder
- Wynburn Honey
- Raider’s Guide
- Saint Zac (1st reserve)
- Finloch Cash (2nd reserve)