Magical Auckland Cup victory
Peter Fenemor • January 27th, 2025 3:06 PM
It was a magical moment for the nation’s leading greyhound conditioner Lisa Cole at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday afternoon when she produced More Magic to stride to his stylish victory in the $80,000 Auckland Cup.
More Magic overcame some early buffering when coming away from the 527m two-trap to positioned himself ideally when racing into the first turn, tracking the early pace-setting pair of One Hot Bandit and Xisco Bale.
He raced two-out down the back straight from where he made a forward move when heading into the final turn, with field being led by kennelmate Boom Dynamite who had pushed up along the rail.
More Magic pounced when rounding the turn, claiming the race lead when the classy field straightened up for the run home.
That was the winning move as More Magic maintained his strong gallop to judge Murray Lamer who awarded a three-quarter length margin to More Magic over the powerful finishing Paw Bradley after 30.36 seconds of hard out chasing.
Paw Bradley was absolutely massive in nailing the runner’s up position for Craig Roberts. He was impeded, flushed out wide and forced back to the rear group when going into the first turn.
One Hot Bandit kicked on stoutly to finish third another 1.5 lengths behind for Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie.
The victory by More Magic was a true family affair. He is owned by Lisa’s husband Brendon, while daughters Ella and Georgia, along with son Monty undertook the handling duties on Sunday.
“That was an exceptional win by a young, inexperienced greyhound. He got knocked around early, however he seized on his opportunity when the run presented.
“It was just his 16th race start (seven wins) and to win a Group 1 race at this stage of his career is unbelievable.
“To breed, rear, break in, train and own a Group 1 winner is very special to myself and my family,” explained Brendon Cole about the son of Hasten Slowly and Blazin’ Savannah who is now the eighth Auckland Cup winner trained by the Coles..
Everest conquered in Railway Sprint
The only Group 1 training win on the national calendar that the previous highflying Dave and Jean Fahey training partnership had missing from their CV of 65 Group 1 victories was the Railway Sprint.
That glaring anomaly was rectified for Dave Fahey at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday when he, along with his new training partner Katie Wyllie, mentored Everest Sky to his power-packed 18.14 Manukau 318m win in the $30,000 sprint.
It was a win that very nearly didn’t occur as Fahey explains. “I wasn’t going to include Everest Sky in our Railway nominations, having another sprinter in mind. Katie said to me, no Everest Sky would be a better prospect for us, so I agreed to nominate him.”
Everest Sky booked his place in the final field when winning his heat in 18.60, a time that reflected the degree of jostling that occurred on the turn.
Roll onto the final and it was a line of speed merchants who sprinted towards the turn. Emerging from that line was the green racing vest worn by Everest Sky and he dashed clear to win his biggest career race by a comfortable 8.25 lengths.
Appropriately it was Katie Wyllie who placed Everest Sky on top of the podium to receive his deserved accolades.
“When he was in front on the turn, I became confident as he’s a very strong dog. Yes, I’m proud in now achieving the clean sweep (Group 1 wins),” commented Fahey, adding, “It’s very special when you breed and own greyhounds like Everest Sky.”
Fahey races Everest Sky with his wife Jean and they bred the son of Aussie Infrared and Isavana, a litter that includes the Railway Sprint favourite Jerry Cola, who completely bombed the race start.
It was the locally based sisters Lisa and Tracey Craik who claimed the minor placings with Lion’s Den rushing home to secure second place three-quarters of a length in front of kennelmate Quintessential.
It was an action packed afternoon of Manukau high-class premier greyhound racing which included Boom Lateral comprehensively outstaying his rivals in the $15,000 Auckland Stayers Cup (779m) for the ecstatic local conditioner Rob Roper.
And it was a deserved training success for the Craik sisters when they produced the Auckland Cup first reserve Turtle Watch to stylishly win the $10,000 Delys Van Meeuwen Stakes (527m), which was the Auckland Cup consolation race.
Pictured: Auckland Cup winner More Magic along with (from left) Georgia, Monty and Ella Cole
