The Fahey and Wyllie-mentored Opawa Mocha has also briefly held the Addington 295m best time and he illustrated what a sharp sprinter he is when he produced his quick 18.22 Railway Sprint heat win.
“Yes, Mocha used his strength in his heat and he will be improved after that. He is suited drawing out in eight and we are pleased he has done so,” confirmed Wyllie.
Everest Sky provided the Fahey and Wyllie training team with their third Railway Sprint finalist when he scampered away for his 18.60 heat win, with the time being a reflection of some mid-race jostling.
“Sky has really found his form and he’s jumping better now. I thought that was an impressive win by him first up on the track, especially after the trouble in the heat. I feel the six-trap will suit him,” suggested Wyllie who added, “all of our sprinters have done well and they’re all as happy as”.
Just as a side note, the only Group 1 race winner on the national calendar, that the previous Dave and Jean Fahey training partnership didn’t train the winner of, is the Railway Sprint. Perhaps the new training partners can fix that anomaly on Sunday?
The locally Drury-based sisters Lisa and Tracey Craik have firmly established themselves as a quality training team. They were involved in mentoring Just One Smile to victory in the 2019 Railway Sprint final.
On Sunday Just One Smile’s son Quintessential, who is also a grandnephew to the 2011 Ben Craik-trained Railway Sprint winner Snicko, will be seeking to replicate his mum following his strong 2.75 length heat second to Opawa Mocha. The winner of 12 of his 15 Manukau 318m sprints will race in the blue vest.
“Yes, it will be a dream result if Quintessential can win the Railway. It is an extremely tough field, one of the strongest I have seen. He’ll need to jump quickly. He has come back really good from his spell and it’s up to him to run a mistake-free race,” Lisa Craik said.
The trap-one drawn Lion’s Den has been a consistent Cambridge 375m sprinter for a long time for the Craiks. He made his return to Manukau to produce his tidy 5.75 length heat second to Jerry Cola.
“Lion’s Den will need some luck as I can’t see him challenging for the early lead as he hasn’t got a 4.40 first split in his legs. He will hold the rail. Hey, you don’t know what is going to happen and at least we’re in the field,” reflected Craik, who added, “To us, this race is more like a David versus Goliath contest. Those visiting sprinters have fantastic run home times.”
Lisa Cole is returning with two finalists following the heat wins delivered by Midnight Brockie (18.32) and Big Time Proof (18.49). Cole has also qualified for two Auckland Cup finalists.
Midnight Brockie is a versatile sprinter who keeps on delivering competitive sprints. She has drawn nicely in the two-trap.
“I feel it’s going to be tricky going into the turn owing to the PBD draw. I can see a wall of dogs hitting that turn together.
“Midnight Brockie will go for the rail, so hopefully she gets a clean run into the turn,” Brendon Cole said.
It doesn’t matter where Big Time Proof draws as the current Wanganui 16.87 313m straight track record holder maintains a straight racing line as Cole explains about the trap-five drawn sprinter.
“He runs a dead straight line so maybe he might hold out the wider runners. I don’t think we can win the Railway as I believe others in it are faster sprinters.”
Craig Roberts is another trainer who will be represented by runners in both Group 1 finals. Hadwin Bale was solid when he kicked on boldly for his 1.5-length heat second to Midnight Brockie
“I was happy with his heat sprint. He can fly out which he must do from out there [seven]. I expect him to have improved following his race up there,” Roberts said.
The Fahey and Wyllie-trained current Galaxy Sprint title holder Opawa Marsh is the first reserve, while Big Time Lena is the second reserve for her conditioner Pater Heterick.
Super Support Card
Sunday’s premier meeting support card is stacked full of competitive races, headlined by the $15,000 Auckland Stayers Cup (Race 3) over the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Collar 779m distance.
It is a milestone race for the grand campaigner Grande Vue Ace who will line up for her 100th career race wearing the gold racing vest.
Her breeder, owner and trainer Bob Pringle has based himself in Pukekohe during his current “working holiday” and he has kept his pride and joy up to the mark via a couple of Manukau trials. She has reportedly thrived during her time in the north.
Adding the intrigue factor to the race is the track debut appearance of the up-and-coming stayer Goldstar Ginny. Her trainer Riley Evans is trekking north with the strong-finishing last start 43.51 Addington 732m winner with a view of looking forward to June’s Silver Collar series. She will race from the eight-trap on Sunday.
Rob Roper has his pair of proven stayers Trenzalore and Boom Lateral engaged in the race, while Tin Lizzy brings strong recent Cambridge 747m form into the event for her conditioners Wayne and Tracey Steele.
The $10,000 Delys Van Meeuwen Stakes (Race 11) is basically the 527m Auckland Cup consolation race where a post-race podium case can be built for all of the drawn contenders.
And it is a similar theme for the other eight races on the card.
Bring it on!
