Kiwi bred greyhounds chase after Group 1 glory
Peter Fenemor • February 12th, 2026 10:21 AM • 4 min read
New Zealand bred greyhounds take centre stage during this evening’s huge 15 race card at the Addington Raceway, where two Group 1 525m finals will be contested.
The trap one drawn Dalgety is warmly favoured to take out the $30,000 Active Electrical Christchurch NZ St Leger (M9 Race 10) for the male chasers.
Garry Cleeve produced Dalgety to record the quickest 30.06 525m heat time. He also holds the field best 29.70 525m winning time.
“Dalgety raced up to expectations and his draw is good as he likes the rail. I have been working on his box manners, and he had a good hit out this morning (Tuesday),” said Cleeve.
Cleeve bookends the field as he also qualified the trap eight drawn Twisted Truth, who finished 5.90 lengths behind Dalgety in fourth in his heat.
“Hopefully from out wide he can do his own thing. He has his share of ability, although being a place chance looks best for him,” suggested Cleeve.
The powerful Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie training combination always commands total respect when it comes to Group 1 racing.
They qualified three finalists headed by Opawa Hass who led his heat rivals throughout when securing his 30.23 heat win.
Opawa Postman was gallant when he was cut back late by Dalgety after he attempted lead his heat all-the-way. Kennelmate It’s Okay resolutely pressed on from the midfield for his 5.80 length heat third to Dalgety.
Fahey provides his thoughts on the kennel runners’ prospects. “Opawa Hass has the pace to lead them early, although that depends on what Dalgety does at the start. He is a consistent 525m dog, who is capable of making his presence felt.
“Opawa Postman needs to get handy early which he could find hard to do from out there (7). He’ll need some luck; however, he has been racing good. With clear early room he can be right in the finish.
“It’s Okay has a nice draw (2) and he could lead them out early, but again it could come down to what Dalgety does early. All of our runners are good to go on Thursday.”
It’s a fascinating field of female greyhounds who will contest the $30,000 Selwyn Rakaia Vets Ltd NZ Breeders Stakes (M9 Race 9) final.
There is an abundance of early pace held by the girls, therefore the race into the all important first turn is likely to hold the key to race outcome.
Taking out the 525m heat time honours was the Jason Dunn mentored Opawa Emily, who finished strongly to claim her 30.40 win. She will load away in the one-trap.
“Yes, I was pleased with the way she got over the top of them in her heat. She isn’t going to be handy early with plenty of pace in the race.
“Her draw can save her some ground and if she’s sitting around fourth going past the sprint boxes, then I’ll be feeling confident she can pick them up. She is as good as I can get her,” advised Dunn.
There will be plenty of hometown support for the locally Dan Roberts prepared From Now On who took out her heat in 30.55.
It was a top training effort by Roberts to get his charge to run out her 525m assignment as she’s better known as a sharp short course sprinter, who owns stacks of early pace. She will be sighted racing in the TAB 3 rug.
“Yes, she did good in her heat, and I was very pleased with her. Her draw is good for her and hopefully the plan of running her in the Breeders comes to fruition.
“She has been ripping up the ground and she’s all good to go on Thursday,” confirmed Roberts.
It will be a fairytale result for 20-year-old trainer Leaha Washington if her girl Minnie Angel can secure victory in Washington’s first attempt at Group 1 racing.
It took the strength of Opawa Emily to gun down the freewheeling Minnie Angel by a half length margin in her heat. She has drawn to use her pace from the eight-trap.
“I’m extremely excited, but very nervous about having my first greyhound racing in a Group 1 race. I was happy with her heat run, especially as she needed a confidence race after her muzzle came loose on her in her previous race.
“I like her racing from the pink box as she has gone a 5.75 first sectional before and reaching the back mark in 17.60. If she can do that in the final, then she should put a margin on them early - she has to burn them early,” explained Washington.
The ominous presence of the Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie training partnership will be sighted with Something Bold who closed to a half-length margin to From Now On in her heat.
“Something Bold went really good in her heat We’re happy with her draw (2) as she can get herself handy to the early pace,” said Fahey
Other features during the evening includes the Kiwi bred stayers clashing over the 732m distance in the time-honoured Valley Inn Tavern Sockburn Cup (M10 Race 1).
And the short course speed merchants will contest a pair of $10,000 295m sprint finals with the potent sprinter Jerry Cola seeking his 45th career win (from 60 races) in the Homekill Guys Ltd Sprint feature (M9 Race 7).
