Remarkable transition from Rehoming to Racing for Hanzo River
Peter Fenemor • August 5th, 2025 10:46 AM • 5 min read
Within the space of a few months the northern Kay Herbert trained sprinter Hanzo River has gone from being on the greyhound rehoming list to attaining open class racing status being the winner of nine races.
The remarkable transition occurred under the astute eye of Hanzo River’s boutique Takanini based 76-year-old conditioner.
Hanzo River is a December 2022 whelped son of Zambora Brockie and Spring Queen. He was bred and owned by Emma Potts, along with Daryl McLachlan and was initially sent to Pahiatua to be reared by Wayne Morris and his late wife Coral.
He returned north for the breaking in process with Phil Green. After being given a number of trials Hanzo River was not considered quick enough to make it as a race dog and last February he was deregistered and placed on the GRNZ Greyhound As Pets (GAP) rehoming list under his kennel name Norman.
Kay Herbert became aware of Norman’s impending move to Cambridge to enter the Great Mates kennels for the rehoming education process.
With permission from Potts she contacted the GRNZ office, saying to them she wanted to take on the greyhound, as Herbert explains. “They said to me ‘do you want him as a pet’, to which I replied, ‘no I want to race him’. They said to me, ‘That’s never happened before, an unraced dog being taken off the GAP list to go racing’”.
In April Kay Herbert formed an ownership partnership with grandson Andre Warren, and today Hanzo River races under the Andre & Nana’s Partnership ownership.
It was 21 March when Hanzo River was reregistered and after trialling, he went on to contest a qualifying trial at Manukau in May, recording 19.02 for his 318m sprint.
Two weeks later, on 2 June he ran an encouraging 375m debut second at Cambridge, returning to the venue on 12 June where he led home the exciting young chaser Best Bet Benny, winning over 375m in a tidy 21.50.
And the rest is as they say is history. Since Hanzo River’s first win he has contested 12 races, winning another eight 375m/318m sprints, while placing in three-races accumulation $17,400 in stake earnings.
Last Sunday at Manukau, Hanzo River contested his first C5 sprint, winning the 318m dash while wearing the TAB 3 rug, in the meet best 18.59 time.
Kay Herbet first became involved in greyhound racing back in 1977 with her late husband Fred. In those days, the Auckland club was racing at the Mt Smart Stadium and the Kumeu Raceway.
The couple trained from the same Takanini base where Kay trains from today. They were respected conditioners of greyhounds, consistently winning races led by the smart chasers Takanini Lad and Willy Wonty.
In 1986 Willy Wonty won the New Zealand final of the New South Wales St Leger over 532m at Mt Smart. The win qualified Willy Wonty to represent New Zealand in the rich NSW St Leger final, raced on Sydney’s Wentworth Park.
Retired Trackside commentator and GRNZ Hall of Fame member Peter Earley took a tour group across the Tasman to support Fred and Willy Wonty.
Willy Wonty missed in his Sydney assignment, however the tour group enjoyed tremendous hospitality at a number of NSW greyhound tracks.
These days Kay Herbert happily looks after her small team of greyhounds, which includes the consistent sprinter Dynamite Boy who has won 21 races. Included in his owning Young Guns syndicate is Herbert, her late daughter Lavinia, granddaughter Roimata Warren and son-in-law Dion Walker, along with Mark Lin.
The Young Guns syndicate successfully raced the talented multiple Group race winning chaser Opawa Hugo (29 wins, $144,145 stakes) from the powerful Dave and Jean Fahey kennels.
Opawa Hugo is now enjoying life at the Herbert Takanini based ‘doggy motel’.
Kay Herbert is a rather relaxed trainer, preferring to let her greyhounds do their own things as she says. “I machine walk my team and then let them mix and mingle in the yard during the day. They always have access to their kennels, and they are only put away in them during the nights.
“Being hands on giving them tender loving care works for me and my dogs. Lavinia was a tremendous help to me. Andre helps me as does Roimata when she is here, making up the meals. I am quite happy just pottering along.”
And her thoughts on what Hanzo River has achieved so far and her ongoing plans for him?
“I am very happy where he has come from and to where he is today. I try not to get excited. I would love to have more dogs like him if I had the room. I am just going to take him along quietly.”
It has been a rapid introduction into greyhound racing for 24-year-old Andre Warren, who is the race day handler for Hanzo River, as he informs us.
“I have only been involved in greyhound racing for a year, getting involved through my family and I am really enjoying it. Hanzo River is the first dog I have raced. Nana has been a fantastic mentor for me, plus also Phil Green. I have learnt so much from them.”
And Roimata says, “I am really happy for them. Nana simply loves her dogs, and they keep her going.”
Do not be surprised to see the agile Kay Herbert being actively involved in more greyhounds like Hanzo River in the future. TLC goes a heck of a long way.
