GREY GREATS DUEL
Raider’s Guide and Fast Minardi squaring off at Elwick
Two of Tasmanian greyhound racing’s modern-day greats, Raider’s Guide and Fast Minardi, are set to clash in the Devonport Middle Distance Championship Final (599m) at Elwick this afternoon.
Fast Minardi surpassed $250,000 in his last start win in Launceston when he recorded his 34th career win. A victory today will see Raider’s Guide pass that prize-money barrier.
Raider’s Guide is trained by veteran Mangalore-based trainer Gary Fahey. The son of Zambora Broke has won 25 of his 51 starts.
Since his last start win in the Group 1 Rookie Rebel Final (600m) at The Meadows in
Melbourne, the chaser was given a solo trial over 720m in Launceston on 11 March, where he ran a slick 42.05s, just 0.2s outside the track record.
Part-owner Greg Fahey explained the chaser has since trialled exceptionally well interstate.
“He trialled at Sandown Park (in Melbourne) over 600m and ran very well. Then he went up to The Gardens (in Newcastle) about 10 days ago and trialled over 600m, and he broke the track record,” said Fahey.
“He doesn’t have to win on Tuesday, but if he gets through this run unscathed, he will head to The Gardens for the 715, which is worth $500,000 to the winner. The heats are on 24 April, and the final is on 3 May. Then, in the middle of May, is the Group 1 Sandown Cup.
“The key to doing what we are doing is that travelling is a breeze for him. He has a brilliant and relaxed nature. It’s one thing to have the ability, but it’s another to handle the travel, and that certainly isn’t a worry for him at all,” Fahey explained.
Raider’s Guide has broken the 599m Elwick track record on two occasions. The most recent was on 29 June last year, when he ran 33.38s. The previous record before he broke it was 33.75s.
From box two today, Fahey is looking forward to the clash with Fast Minardi, who has drawn box seven.
“They have had a lot of great clashes, and they are both great dogs in their own right. We have chased home him a few times, and he has chased us a few times. You don’t want to be racing him every week, but it’s great for greyhound racing to see those two go head-to-head.
Fast Minardi’s trainer, Paul Hili, admits that he hopes his star chaser can jump better than he did at his most recent start.
“I have never seen him miss the start like that. He has been known to miss the jump, but not that badly.
“There isn’t much around for him at the moment, so we are taking it week by week. At the moment, we have no plans after Tuesday’s race,” Hili said.
ANOTHER BIG WIN FOR DAVIS
Fresh off his biggest win in the Easter Cup, 17-year-old Brodie Davis has won the BOTRA Claiming Novice Drivers Series at Sunday night’s harness meeting at Elwick.
Across the five heats, Davis drove one winner and two placings to accumulate 47 points.
Davis finished six clear of Charlie Castles and Olivia Weidenbach, who both deadheated for second.