NZ Cup winner One Hot Bandit is retired
Peter Fenemor • June 17th, 2025 1:37 PM • 4 min read
The outstanding greyhound One Hot Bandit has been retired from racing following an incident during the recent Waterloo Cup final.
He enjoyed a stellar career highlighted by his amazing unbeaten 15 race winning streak over 525m at the Addington Raceway.
After a successful Australian career, mainly on New South Wales tracks, One Hot Bandit made his 8 November New Zealand race debut in the 525m heats for the Springston Hotel New Zealand Cup at the Addington Raceway.
It was to be a winning debut as the Punter’s HQ and Emma Potts owned son of Barcia Bale and Nino De Oro cruised through his assignment, clocking a tidy 29.92 gallop.
A week later he lined up in the $100,000 final as the $2.10 favourite and he led all-the-way for his comfortable two-length, 30.01 win under the guidance of the potent Dave and Jean Fahey training partnership.
One Hot Bandit became the 11th New Zealand Cup winner prepared by the Faheys.
A second place then followed in the Group 1 Spion Rose Cup over 520m at the Hatrick Raceway.
Then, on January 2, now being mentored by the high-flying Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie combination, saw One Hot Bandit setting the then Addington 525m track record when he sizzled to his 29.62 victory.
A third place in the Group 1 Auckland Cup was secured from where he continued on with his Addington 525m winning rampage, dominating his open class opposition.
“One Hot Bandit was an exceptionally talented greyhound who compiled a remarkable Addington 525m record,” advised Dave Fahey.
“His New Zealand Cup win was definitely a highlight and he’s right up there amongst the top echelon of greyhounds that I have trained.
“He was an easy greyhound to train, being a real chilled out dog in the kennels,” added Fahey.
And for co-owner Emma Potts it was an exciting journey being involved in One Hot Bandit’s ownership.
“One Hot Bandit was an exciting greyhound to have racing. I’ve never had a dog as good as him even when I was training.
“To win a New Zealand Cup first up with One Hot Bandit was amazing. And his 15-race unbeaten Addington 525m record was incredible – that was crazy!
“As his winning record extended, I was nervous but also excited about going to Addington on Thursday nights to watch him race. He raced in open class fields against the best and he beat very good greyhounds like Paw Bradley and Xisco Bale.
“It was a privilege to own and race a greyhound like One Hot Bandit,” enthused Potts.
One Hot Bandit retires with the imposing career record of 62 races, 34 wins and 17 placings, accumulating $342,489 in stake earnings.
Meanwhile the Balcairn based Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie training partnership continues to kick goals.
Since 1 January they have mentored 146 winners, which includes three Group 1 and two Group 2 wins.
And an intriguing battle for the Trainer’s Strike Rate title is unfolding. Fahey and Wyllie currently hold a tidy 0.4859 UDR figure, the result of the 146 wins and 128 placings they have produced from 423 starters.
Sitting on top of them on the national table was the previous Dave and Jean Fahey training partnership, which up to 31 December had prepared 148 winners and 118 placings from their 417 starters, which translates into an impressive 0.4897 UDR score.
It is a see-sawing battle with at different times both sets of trainers leading the Strike Rate, while also being locked together at various stages.
It will be a fascinating battle to decide the NZ Strike Rate title right through to the 31 July finish for the current season.
Pawnote: A remarkable return to racing by the Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie prepared Boldly Go continues in Thursday’s $10,000 2025 Ashburton Cup (Race 8) over 525m at the Addington Raceway.
It was last December when Boldy Go was easily leading the Far South Challenge field at Ascot Park when the lure stopped resulting in Boldly Go breaking a shoulder.
After a period of recuperation and tender loving care, he was ready to resume racing after a six-month spell. Boldy Go indicated his readiness for his return when delivering his swift 16.60 return to racing 295m trial.
The member of the brilliant Aussie Infrared and Isvana litter, which includes the potent greyhound Jerry Cola (27 wins from 37 races), has won two 295m sprints this month since he resumed racing.
Boldly Go has drawn trap-2 for his Thursday assignment which effectively gives him the rails draw with box-1 being vacant. He owns an outstanding race record from the inside traps.
His clash with the inform Craig Roberts prepared current Addington 29.50 525m track record holder Paw Bradley will be a paw wrestle not to be missed.
“Boldly Go is the strongest greyhound in his litter and he has done everything right since his return. He’s set to deliver a competitive race from his good draw in the Ashburton Cup on Thursday,” confirmed Fahey about the winner of five from his six Addington 525m races.
