HOT ROXY ROCKS RIVALS
ASTUTE greyhound trainer Gary Fahey has had so many talented young chasers over time that it would be unfair to name just a few but one thing is certain the crop of youngsters he has in his kennel at present rate with some of the best.
At Elwick on Tuesday lightly raced pup Roxy Rocker celebrated her fourth race start with a resounding win in the $17,700 Ulverstone Pet Foods NWGRC Breeders Classic final over 461 metres.
Roxy Rocker ($10) flew the gates from box seven to land on the lure and she was never headed on her way to a three-length win over the favourite Fast Minardi ($3.80) with Twice Bitten ($5.50) a half-head away third.
The well-bred juvenile made her way int the final with a second to Rojo Henry in their semifinal but she showed her worth when she won her qualifying heat 10 days earlier, clocking 26.05 seconds which was one of the best of the meeting.
“She was probably way over the right odds because of her run in the semi-final but she was hampered by a dog in that race, and she wasn’t able to get clear racing room, but I knew her capabilities and she ran up to my expectations,” Fahey said. “She was going to run good time that day and I reckon she has all the attributes to be a very good dog.”
Roxy Rocker (El Grand Senor-Just Browsing) will now be aimed at graded races at both tracks.
“I haven’t taken any of the litter to Launceston yet but that’s on the cards shortly because there will be some nice races for them up there (Launceston).”
Roxy Rocker’s litter brother Supreme Leader was also engaged in the Breeders Classic final but missed the start and finished near last. Supreme Leader blotted his copybook because he is usually a great beginner, but he missed it (start) and that ended his chances.
“El Grand Senor has been a great sire for our breed and the mother of these pups Just Browsing was a very talented sprinter and one of our best in recent years.”
The run of Fast Minardi in the final was outstanding, considering he was checked severely
when the boxes opened and had to weave a passage through the field and ran on resolutely to grab second in the last bound from Twice Bitten.
Fast Minardi’s trainer Paul Hili said the dog, that is owned by former talented harness trainer-driver Ross Freeman, has a bright future.
“Drawing box five meant he was always going to struggle to win if he missed the start slightly and that’s what happened but as usual, he found a way through the field and rattled home late,” Hili said.
THE St Mary’s harness meeting scheduled for New Year’s Day has been abandoned due to the state of the track that has been deemed unsafe for racing.
The St Mary’s meeting is held on a grass surface and after a number of inspections this past week Tasracing and stewards have agreed to abandon the meeting, however, all attempts will be made to run the St Mary’s Cup at an alternate venue at a time to be determined.
This leaves the thoroughbred meeting at Longford as the only race meeting in the state that day.