Opawa Racing unleashes another potential star chaser
Peter Fenemor • August 12th, 2025 12:32 PM • 4 min read
The Opawa Racing team have been an integral part of the Canterbury and New Zealand greyhound racing scene over the past two decades, enjoying phenomenal success via their close association with the powerful Dave and Jean Fahey kennels.
Over that period Opawa Racing have owned 25 Group 1 winners and 24 Group 2 winners, with the majority of them being bred by them. All have been trained to their Black type wins by the Fahey’s.
Three close mates, Robin Wales and the late Grahame Campbell and Ron Todd, were actively involved in Harness racing for around 15-years racing as Opawa Racing Limited, managed by Wales, when they started racing greyhounds from the Fahey kennels in 2005.
Group race success quickly followed, with Jupiter Jazz winning the 2005 edition of the New Zealand St Leger.
Opawa Racing then decided to import a number of classy greyhounds from Australia, most of whom carried the Winsome naming prefix.
Group race wins started to freely flow and in 2012 they made the decision to breed from their royally bred Australian bitches.
Winsome Opawa became Opawa Racing’s foundation sire, and he left a long stream of high-class greyhounds with the mates introducing the Opawa naming prefix who have gone on to have a profound influence on the New Zealand breeding and racing scene.
That influence is still very evident today, with Opawa named greyhounds regularly contesting and winning races right throughout the country.
The Canterbury OTB have sponsored the OTB Maiden for many years with Opawa Racing and the Fahey’s combining to frequently win the rich final for the youngsters over the years.
It has been a race that has launched the careers of greyhounds who have gone on to competitively contest Group races.
This Thursday sees the 2025 edition of the $7,800 OTB Maiden being contested at the Addington Raceway.
Two 525m heats, held last Friday decided the final field and emerging from those heats was yet another Opawa named greyhound who indicated that he has a bright racing future in front of him.
The Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie trained Opawa Fannin dictated the pace throughout to secure his smart 30.30 debut win and as the name suggests he is owned by Shaun and Hazel Fannin, along with Robin Wales.
“Yes, Opawa Fannin is pretty smart alright,” confirmed Wales. “He trialled quickly before he qualified (295m, 16.81).
“I was involved in the ownership of Opawa Scarlett who was trained by Shaun and Hazel. He won his first race however he didn’t carry on with it.
“I’m currently involved in a young unraced horse who is being trained by Shaun and Hazel.
“I was initially a friend of Hazel, naming and racing Opawa Schofer (2024 Gr. 1 NZ Breeders Stakes winner) after her,” advised Wales, who also has thoroughbred interests in the handy galloper Opawa Jack who is prepared by Chrissy Brambry.
“I offered Shaun and Hazel a half share in Opawa Fannin, and it was great that Shaun was oncourse to watch him win last Friday.”
And that breeding influence held by Opawa Racing can be clearly seen by there being four other Opawa prefix named youngsters lining up in Thursday’s OTB Maiden final.
“Opawa Fannin is clearly the better greyhound from the five that we have racing in the final,” stated Wales.
Pawnote: Included in the 25 Group 1 winners owned by Opawa Racing are five New Zealand Cup winners – 2006 Winsome Show, 2007 Winsome Daisy, 2009 Winsome Bucks, 2013 Opawa Swede and 2022 Opawa Superstar.
And Opawa Racing has also owned five New Zealand Oaks winners – 2007 Winsome Daisy, 2009 Winsome Uno, 2016 Opawa Shackley, 2019 Opawa Hop and 2024 Opawa Susan.
One Group 1 ownership victory that has eluded Robin Wales is being involved in a New Zealand Derby winner – will that anomaly be rectified by Opawa Fannin this season?
