Big night for the Fahey’s culminate in another New Zealand Cup
Jean & Dave Fahey dominated the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup, training the trifecta from their four runners entered. On top of this they took out six of the 12 carded races and would have taken the large majority of the night's overall stakes.
The La Rochelle Best Ball dual in race two was an early highlight of the night. Both dogs evenly poised and very talented. La Rochelle made the best of the start from an inferior draw of six flying to an early lead. Best Ball was certainly suited to his draw of eight, however, La Rochelle was flying in front on a track that would have a leaders bias. La Rochelle led all of the way, running an impressive 30.07 holding out Daniel Lane’s Best Ball. Jason Dunn has a very nice bitch on his hands here and she is improving at every start.
Trojan Hoarse was practically everyone's first pick to record another group one and it was no surprise to see another supercharged beginning. He’s All Shine for Sam Lozell railed into a trailing position and made some headway, however, he would not be able to bridge the gap. Trojan Hoarse for Lisa Cole at over four years of age has been a marvel since taking on the sprinting journey, and thoroughly deserved his first Galaxy in most likely his last attempt at the race. Tucker for Daniel Lane was very good late charging into third, while Starburst George for Malcolm Grant was very brave and would have placed if not for his harsh box draw of eight.
Ozzie and Quincy Bale would have to be at their best from their respective draws to play a significant part in the running of the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup. Quincy Bale missed the start from box seven, while Ozzie was slow away from box six and was squeezed out of a gap where he fell. This basically left the race to the Fahey charge as Rock On John and Opawa Nat would fight out one of the closest finishes in New Zealand Cup history. The up and coming star has been a revelation since crossing the Tasman and at start 13 his consistency was rewarded with victory in New Zealand’s richest race and Group One status. Opawa Nat was super brave for her second, while Opawa Toddy made use of the ace draw for his third.
The Fahey’s did not stop after their New Zealand Cup trained trifecta as Student Loan put pay to his opposition in the Group One New Zealand Stayers. He took a while to get into stride after Bronski Beat took an early lead but he really demonstrated his staying class with a convincing four-length victory defeating a strong finishing Goldstar Truman who ran a cracker of a race. Von Strass finished a handy third after being in the early Pack, giving the Fahey’s first and third to accompany their New Zealand Cup trifecta and their six wins which also included big performances by Great Work, Mighty Muscle, Opawa Deal and Canya Oscar.
Written by Shane Kendall
