‘Best In 40 Years': Faheys Hume Cup Raid On Song

RAIDER'S Guide looms as Tasmania's best hope of conquering a Victorian group 1 since the Australian Cup-Topgun double achieved by Buckle Up Wes in 2014.

Trained by Gary Fahey, Raider's Guide roared into the Group 1 Hume Cup Final (600m) with a powerhouse 34.16 heat victory at The Meadows on Monday night.

For Gary and his brother Greg, stalwarts of the Tasmanian greyhound racing industry, the dashing win vindicated their decision to target the showpiece middle distance feature with their gifted chaser.

"He's the best dog we've had in 40 years – the best since Lygon Leader back in the early 80s," Greg Fahey beamed.

"The Hume Cup has been on the radar for some time with him so to check that first box off and win his heat like he did was fantastic.

"He made the G1 National Sprint Final but that just kind of happened. This race was always the target.

"He's a very good dog and we are very lucky to have him."

How about the Tasmanian!

Raider's Guide is into another Group 1 at The Meadows with a dazzling performance ???? pic.twitter.com/w19py5AdMx

— Melbourne Greyhounds – The Meadows (@MelbourneGreys) November 6, 2023

Winner at 17 of his 39 career starts, Raider's Guide is a son of Zambora Brockie and Sacred Shadow, the dam from a successful breeding line nurtured by the Faheys for decades.

And it was soon after the powerhouse all-distance dynamo returned from education in Victoria as a pup that the Faheys knew they had a potential star in their possession.

"Ken Murphy educates our pups and this bloke came home with pretty big wraps," Fahey said.

"He holds three track records – one of which he broke of his own. Not many dogs can say they've done that.

"And the thing about him is he's so durable and tough. He lacks that yard early but is so strong. That's why middle distance racing is right up his alley. 

"Whether he runs 700 we're not sure. I always remember the great Tommy Smith saying ‘if you want to know if a horse can run a mile-and-a-half give it a run over a mile-and-a-half'.

"It's always stuck with me that line. We'll test him over 700 in the new year and see how he goes."

Adding further to Fahey's optimism about Raider's Guide's Hume Cup prospects was the star Taswegian drawing box one for the $75,000-to-the-winner decider.

"It's absolutely perfect for him," Fahey said.

"The box draw (one) is an amazing assistance. I think he could sit off the two and the three early and get his chance.

"But Hector Fawley will be very hard to beat. If he runs up to what he ran Monday (33.98) we'll have our work cut out. But our bloke went pretty quick too."

With Gary and Greg set to remain in Tasmania, handling duties for Raider's Guide will once again be left with Gary's daughter Carol.

"Carol has done a wonderful job with him," Fahey said.

"She's been around dogs forever and is great with him. They are flying home Tuesday morning and will head back over Friday afternoon.

"The dog is a great traveller so it doesn't worry him in the slightest."

Following Saturday night's Hume Cup tilt, the Faheys will turn their attention to the coveted Group 1 Hobart Thousand (461m) to be staged next month.

"He loves Hobart and those wide open spaces," Fahey said.

"We'll freshen him up and set our sights on that. He ran 25.60 at Hobart at his second ever start which at the time was the quickest run for the 12 months prior."