One hot minute for One Hot Bandit
Peter Fenemor • November 19th, 2024 8:38 AM
Thursday evening's $100,000 Springston Hotel New Zealand Cup resulted in another resounding victory for the potent Dave and Jean Fahey kennels.
One Hot Bandit, who was backed into warm favouritism, simply ran his rivals off their paws when the former Australian greyhound led throughout to provide the Fahey's with their astounding 11th New Zealand Cup training success.
It was game on during the early rush for positions with One Hot Bandit gaining the early race lead while wearing the TAB 3 racing vest.
As expected the Lisa Cole trained other favoured contender He's All Go dropped into the slipstream and it appeared game on from that point.
Streaming down the back straight One Hot Bandit controlled proceedings being hotly chased after by He's All Go, along with Let Him Cook for Matt Roberts and another Cole prepared contender Johnny Football.
It was to be all in vain for the chasing group as One Hot Bandit came away to secure his Gr. 1 win by a comfortable two-length margin, clocking a tidy 30.01 for his 525m assignment.
Let Him Cook pressed on stoutly for his second placing, while half-a-length behind him it was Johnny Football who rushed into third, snatching that placing by a neck over his kennelmate He’s All Go.
Speaking afterwards Dave Fahey said the win was a combination of 'greatness'. "We are very lucky to have great owners, great staff and great greyhounds. It's a combination of those factors that leads to our success.
"It took us a while to get One Hot Bandit ready to race, however we knew from his trials and his Australian form that he is a very good, strong dog.
Fahey then added, “It was a stressful day leading into the Cup. One Hot Bandit nicked a paw pad in the morning however fortunately we had it settled by the time we left for the track.”
One Hot Bandit is raced in partnership with the Australian based Punters HQ syndicate and the former northern trainer Emma Potts, who said, "This win means everything to me. I was thrilled when Punters HQ offered me a share in One Hot Bandit and I didn't hesitate to accept.
"I'm especially pleased for my partner Daryl (McLaughlin) who has raced greyhounds with Dave and Jean for around 40-years."
Dave Fahey then confirmed that the next major target for One Hot Bandit is likely to be at Hatrick for the Gr.1 Spion Rose Cup (heats 29 November).
The NZ Cup win was the second Gr. 1 training success for the Fahey's during the meeting as two-races earlier they mentored Opawa Marsh to his powerful victory in the $40,000 Suck It Up Galaxy Sprint.
Pace and strength was the key elements that led to the win. Opawa Marsh powered up after jumping from the eight-trap from where he cruised clear to secure his 16.72 win over the 295m dash for his owning Opawa Racing team.
It was a Fahey training quinella as Very Rarely boldly led home the chasing pack five-lengths behind his kennelmate.
Big Time Atlas finished strongly down the outer for Lisa Cole and he snatched third another half-a-length behind.
"Yes, it was all over as soon as he jumped. He normally isn't that fast out, however he is a very determined chaser who would chase through a brick wall if he had to," commented Dave Fahey about the sprinter who has now remarkably won all 14 of his Addington 295m sprints.
The pair of Group 1 training wins took the total of Group race wins for the Fahey’s up to a remarkable 131 victories – 65 of those coming at Gr. 1 level.
The third Group 1 final on the New Zealand Cup card was easily won by the hot $1.20 favourite Chief Dribble who comprehensively outstayed his rivals when rushing to his 7.25 length win in the $40,000 Rose & Thistle New Zealand Stayers Cup stopping the clock in 42.74.for his 732m gallop.
There was an early surprise when the Corey Steele trained Opawa Ingrid led the field of stayers over the first lap, however Chief Dribble was stalking her throughout.
Going past the starting traps the current NZ Stayer of the Year pounced and the event was effectively all over as a contest from there.
“I thought he did really good considering he didn’t lead early. He’s racing like a more-dour stayer now and it was good to see him coming from behind,” commented Roberts, who advised that Chief Dribble will head to Wanganui for the Gr. 1 Wanganui Distance heats (29 November).
Blake confirmed his potential as a stayer for the Fahey's when he finished solidly to claim his second placing.
Last year's winner of this race Grande Vue Ace unleashed strongly along the rail to secure the third possie a further three-quarters of a length behind for her conditioner Bob Pringle.
