Champagne racing looms for Cambridge Thursday
Peter Fenemor • October 2nd, 2025 9:57 AM • 4 min read
Sparkling greyhound racing is assured during Thursday’s Waikato GRC’s meeting at the Cambridge Raceway.
The three feature races on the card will see outstanding fields being paraded to the 375m, 457m and 747m traps.
Last season’s NZ Derby winner at this venue Jerry Cola warmed up for this assignment when delivering his 25.62 457m Cambridge win last Thursday.
“We took some weight off him from his last start, which helped. His draw (1) is really good for him, and he has checked out real good after last week. Hopefully, he can lead them all-the-way,” said co-trainer Dave Fahey.
The recent Wanganui Cup winner Romantic Rebel returns to Cambridge after he ran down Jerry Cola in his last start Ascot Park 457m assignment.
Co-trainer Jack Johnson is travelling north with him, and he says, “Romantic Rebel is racing really good, hitting a purple patch of form. Hopefully Claws In Zorro (kennelmate) can bring him into the race and then Romantic Rebel finishes over the top of the others.”
The Arch Lawrence prepared 2015 Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar winner Shandell is remembered with the running of the $20,000 Shandell Distance over the 747m staying trip.
The field features the presence of New Zealand’s leading stayer over the past two seasons Chief Dribble.
Victory in this event will take the Matt Roberts and Jack Johnson mentored stayer to over $250,000 in career stake earnings.
He has won 26 races over staying distances, and he arrives back at Cambridge following his strong last start Addington 681m win.
“Yes, we’re pretty happy with his Friday run. That race should top him off nicely and he’ll be cherry ripe for Thursday,” confirmed Johnson.
Johnson prepared Opawa Corban to win last season’s Silver collar (779m) and he warmed up for this feature when finishing a distance behind Chief Dribble last week.
“I know he finished a long way behind Chief Dribble on Friday. However, I thought he stuck it out good and the run should bring him forward for Thursday.,” suggested Johnson.
The Corey Steele prepared Our Erin and Opawa Shirley from the Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie kennels add the intrigue factor to this race with both of them attempting an extreme distance for the first time.
“Our Erin has had a good preparation for the race, and I couldn’t have her in any better condition to run out the 747m trip,” stated Steele, who applied the finishing touches to five winners at last Thursday’s Cambridge meeting.
“Opawa Shirley raced really good on Friday (681m). I was really happy with her in the manner that she stuck to Chief Dribble – I thought he might have got away from her. She handled the 681m distance good.
“I thought we might as well give it a go with her over 747m. Her draw is great (1), and she has pulled up good,” said Fahey.
The speed merchants will be sighted sprinting over the 375m dash in the $10,000 Cannonball Sprint final following last Thursday’s three-heats.
Everest Sky recorded the quickest 21.17 heat time for the Fahey/Wyllie combination.
“Everest Sky is a real professional race dog, who doesn’t mine what track he’s racing on. He doesn’t fly out; however, he has great acceleration and strength,” advised Fahey about the Gr. 1 Railway Sprint winner.
“Opawa Sooty is the quickest of my two by far. He doesn’t have a lot of speed from the traps, which will make it hard for him from trap-seven, especially with the speed drawn inside him. He does have good second phase acceleration.
“For Sweet Bonanza to make a final like this is phenomenal – I’m over the moon. He’s a 21.30 sprinter and he’s still a pup,” enthused Steele.
Lion’s Den, who is the current Waikato GRC Sprinter of the Year, is a professional Cambridge 375m sprinter for the sisters Lisa and Tracey Craik. He finished boldly for his heat second behind Opawa Sooty once he secured a clear racing passage.
“Lion’s Den is a proven, experienced sprinter. I’m pleased with his draw (1). There are some good sprinters in the field, and I know he will give his best,” said Lisa Craik.
