Original Warrior provided Dave Fahey with his 12th NZ Cup training success
Peter Fenemor • November 17th, 2025 12:26 PM • 4 min read
Extraordinary training performances describes the phenomenal record that Dave Fahey has produced when last Thursday he mentored his 12th New Zealand Cup training success with Original Warrior striding to his impressive win.
11 of those victories came when he trained in partnership with his wife Jean.
On January 1 Jean selfishly stepped aside from training, with the couple promoting kennel foreperson Katie Wyllie into a joint training role with Dave.
Last Thursday it was Wyllie who enjoyed her first Springston Hotel New Zealand Cup training success.
Original Warrior tracked his kennelmate Opawa Hass into the first turn on the rain sodden Addington track.
Original Warrior assumed control of the 525m race when streaming down the back straight and he maintained his strong chase through to the judge, being rewarded with his second Group 1 victory after 31.26 seconds of hard out chasing.
It was race on for the minor placings with Paw Earnest extending strongly to secure the runners up prize for his conditioner Craig Roberts.
He cut back last year’s NZ Cup second placegetter, the Matt Roberts and Jack Johnson prepared Let Him Cook by the barest of margins.
“I was happy when Original Warrior got the race lead going down the back straight. When he did, I looked back to see where Craig’s (Roberts) dogs were.
“I was rapt when Original Warrior hit the line. It was a big thrill, and I guess to win to win 12 Cups is an achievement,” a typically modest Fahey commented.
Katie Wyllie handled Original Warrior to win the NZ St Leger, and she was on the end of the lead for his NZ Cup victory, and she provides her thoughts on how the race unfolded.
“I was very happy where he was sitting rounding the first turn and then going down the back straight. I looked back at the field and I felt comfortable.
“Yes, it was a tremendous feeling when he won. I’m so rapt for his owners.”
Original Warrior’s owners, The Southern Boys traveled up from Invercargill and understandably celebrated their biggest win in style.
“Very excited, to be fair I’m overwhelmed. The win completed a dream, and this is one of the greatest days of my life,” expressed co-owner Brendan Keen, who races Original Warrior with mates Mark Turner and Andy Lattimore.
Original Warrior has now won his owners $133,300, the result of 16 wins and 19 minors from his 47 career races.
Original Warrior is a son from the December 2022 whelping of the Mepunga Blazer and Rock On Annie litter, with Rock On Annie now occupying a permanent position on Brendan Keen’s sofa.
Everest Sky secures the Sprinters Group 1 double
Everest Sky completed the short course sprinters Group 1 double when he proved too strong for his rivals, dashing to his power packed 17.22 in the $40,000 The Home Kill Guys Galaxy Sprint for his conditioners Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie.
It was an even line when the field of speed merchants jumped from the 295m traps, however it was Everest Sky who seized the race lead when rounding the turn.
From there he strongly extended to comfortably claim the win by a 2.25 length margin. The Garry Cleeve mentored Priority finished boldly for his second placings, holding a 1.50 length advantage over the Matt Roberts and Jack Johnson trained Smoking Ivan.
Dave Fahey and wife Jean bred and race the son of Aussie Infrared and Isavana who has now won 30 of his 51 races, earning $120,030 in stakes, which includes his Gr. 1 Railway Sprint (318m) win at Manukau.
“I’m very proud to have bred, raced and co-train Everest Sky. He’s a professional greyhound who does everything right,” said Fahey.
“Everest Sky is the love of my life,” enthused Wyllie. “He has so much an infectious personality. He gives it his all and you can’t ask any more than that.”
Opawa Corban displays strength in tough staying victory
The $40,000 Rose & Thistle New Zealand Stayers Cup was always going to turn into a real endurance test over the 732m staying test on the rain-soaked track.
And so, it did. The warmly favoured Matt Roberts and Jack Johnson trained stayer Chief Dribble appeared to be in cruise control when stylishly chasing through his sectionals.
However, during the run home Chief Dribble noticeably shortened stride, and it was kennelmate Opawa Corban who unleashed powerfully to snatch victory by a head margin.
The tough slog the stayers endured is evidenced by the 45.11 time it took to complete the 732m journey, approximately 30 lengths slower than standard.
Opawa Shirley was brave when clinging on for her third placing for Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie a further four lengths behind.
“The track conditions brought Opawa Corban right into contention. He’s strong and he needed those conditions to bring Chief Dribble back to him.
“Opawa Corban came home super – I wasn’t sure from where I was standing who had won. I’m rapt with both of them,” advised Johnson.
Opawa Corban is the current Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar (779) title holder, and his 10th win took his career stake earnings up to $124,044 for his owner Pete McDermott.
Pawnote:
It was an exceptional effort by the Christchurch GRC track staff who worked tirelessly to ensure that the track was presented in a safe condition for racing. It was marginal if the meeting could proceed following significant rain during the day.
Massive thanks is extended to the hard-working track staff from everyone involved that the meeting went ahead, which saw an outstanding meeting being safely raced.
