Opawa Marsh powers to Invercargill Group 2 win
Peter Fenemor • May 22nd, 2025 1:48 PM • 4 min read
Making a powerful start was the key for Opawa Marsh to strongly win Wednesday’s running of the $20,000 Far South Challenge at Ascot Park.
The Group 2 457m event was all over as a contest as soon as the green racing vest worn by the Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie trained Opawa Marsh was sighted securing the early race lead.
Kennelmate and the warm race favourite Jerry Cola made a moderate start and he had to negotiate early traffic to create clear racing room when chasing after the freewheeling pacemaker.
It was to be all in vain as the current Galaxy Sprint title holder was never going to be hauled back in when dashing to his 26.01 win, building a 2.25 length margin over his rails.
It was a titanic battle for the runner’s up prize with the Matt Roberts prepared Romantic Rebel nosing out Jerry Cola for that placing.
“Yes, he jumped good, which was good time to do so. I was fairly confident once I saw him in front,” said Fahey. “Opawa Marsh races ready good over 457m, in fact he has posted the second quickest Manawatu 457m time.”
“Jerry Cola wasn’t the best out and he got hammered. We’ll give him a brief break now,” advised Fahey.
Opawa Marsh is raced by the prolific winning Opawa Racing team, headed by Robin Wales, who bred the son of Aussie Infrared and Opawa Hillary.
The win took Opawa Marsh’s career stake earnings through the $100,000 stakes barrier having now won $102,378. His 50 races has yielded him with 25 wins and 15 minor placings.
The Silver Collar is rapidly looming.
The prestigious Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar is just ten-sleeps away from being contested.
The $80,000 779m staying test will be decided at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday June 8.
The heats for Australasia’s longest greyhound race will be held on June 1, the Kings Birthday weekend.
And that’s an appropriate date for the heats owing to King Charles father Prince Phillip, the Duke Of Edinburgh, having donated the solid silver collar to the Auckland GRC following the 1970 Royal tour of New Zealand.
The silver collar gift followed the gifting of the greyhound named Royal Commission to Prince Phillip by the Auckland club.
The Auckland club instigated a staying race to be held annually known as the Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar.
The first running was at the Kumeu Raceway in 1971 which saw Royal Commission finishing second, then going onto win the 711m race the following year. She ran third in the 1973 edition.
Prince Phillip, who himself successfully raced greyhounds in England which included an English Derby winner (Camira Flash in 1968) directed that all stake money won by Royal Commission to be paid to the New Zealand arm of the Duke Of Edinburgh Awards Scheme.
Over the ensuing 53-years there has been numerous outstanding races for New Zealand’s most prized trophy. The race winner gets to briefly wear the silver collar, while photographed with it with the winning connections receiving a small silver collar replica.
The Silver Collar has been raced for at four-venues with the first Manukau Stadium hosted Silver Collar final being contested in 1990 over the 779m journey.
Retired commentator Peter Earley is regarded as the voice of the Silver Collar, having called 48 editions. He always injected colour and excitement into his Silver Collar commentaries.
Nancy Cobain is fondly known as the Queen of the Silver Collar, having trained an unprecedented five-winners of the great race.
Last year’s 46.01 track record breaking Silver Collar winner Chief Dribble will next be sighted racing over 660m at the Manawatu Raceway on Monday for his conditioner Matt Roberts.
His clash with the Lisa Cole prepared 660m track specialist Johnny Football will be an absolute cracker.
Grande Vue Ace, who is the darling of Geraldine, finished third in last year’s Silver Collar final.
Her conditioner Bob Pringle produced her to race through the $200,000 stakes earning barrier when she effortlessly won her 755m assignment at the Hatrick Raceway last Friday.
Pringle continues with his charges Silver Collar preparation by contesting a 520m race at the Hatrick Raceway tomorrow evening (Race 3).
She then travels north to contest a Manukau 527m event on Sunday (Race 10), where she meets a likely Silver Collar rival in Sweet And Sassy from the Jamie Pruden kennels.
