Roberts & Johnson dominate Hatrick Group races
Peter Fenemor • September 9th, 2025 11:21 AM • 4 min read
The newly formed Matt Roberts and Jack Johnson training partnership has hit the ground running, having already mentored 25 winners for the new season.
The Canterbury trainers were in irresistible form at the Hatrick Raceway last Friday where they applied the finishing touches to both winners of the $20,000 Group races.
Romantic Rebel has been a consistent greyhound at the top level; however, a Group race win had previously eluded the Ian O’Neil and Thayne Green owned chaser.
That anomaly was corrected when Romantic Rebel stormed to his deserved win in the Group 1 Wanganui Cup over 520m.
He had settled midfield, on the rail from where he placed himself into a challenging position when rounding the final turn.
Romantic Rebel unleashed a withering finish which carried him to his sharp 29.80, length victory, while wearing the reserve red, white and blue racing vest.
It was a pair of Lisa Cole trained previous Group 1 winners who occupied the minor placings.
Boom Dynamite had set the pace, and he held on gamely for his second placing while his kennelmate More Magic finished strongly for his third placing.
“Yes, it was a successful trip away. I knew Romantic Rebel was spot on going into the race.
“I thought he got away okay, then I started to get excited when he was going down the back straight, racing along the rail. At that stage I thought if he stayed inside (rail) that he could be right in the finish with his strong run home ability and that’s what happened. It was an emotional win and I’m rapt,” a pleased Roberts explained.
“I’m rapt for his owners. Ian bred Romantic Rebel while Thayne has been a stalwart for greyhound racing over many decades.
“Romantic Rebel has been unlucky in several previous Feature/Group race finals. Wally (kennel name) is a lovely dog to have in our kennels,” added Roberts.
“He came from nowhere to win – it was a good win in a strong field. The best part of the win was him winning for Ian – that’s brilliant,” commented Green, who is a GRNZ Life Member and a GRNZ Hall of Fame member following many decades of greyhound administration.
“To be honest I thought he was good show going into the heats and I had a Futures bet on him. I thought, oh well that’s it when he was the second reserve.
“Romantic Rebel got a dream run, tucked away on the rail. I was confident on the home turn as I knew he would come home strongly. It was a great result!”
For O’Neil the result was a dream come true having bred Romantic Rebel.
“That was an incredible run by Romantic Rebel – I’m watching the race again and again He’s a very strong dog and he was very impressive. He has been unlucky in previous feature races, so he was due a wee bit of luck. I’m rapt!
It was Romantic Rebel’s 15th win. He has placed in another 18 races, earning $76,710 in stakes.
Chief Dribble adds to his Group race wins
Chief Dribble may have changed his normal racing style however the result was the same when he stormed to his win in the Wanganui Stayers final at Group 2 level over the 755m distance.
The Matt Roberts and Jack Johnson mentored stayer is normally sighted setting the pace in his staying races, however on this occasion he settled back in the field.
Using that tactic certainly didn’t faze him as he improved into the midfield when going down the back straight. Turning in for the run home he unwound a paralyzing finishing burst, which carried him to his three-length, 44.85 victory.
The Lisa Cole prepared Johnny Football was super gallant in finishing second after he attempted to lead the race all-the-way.
“Yes, it was a nervous watch with Chief Dribble, He didn’t get the jump, and he was sandwiched between runners early.
“Dirk (kennel name) made up ground down the back straight, then he found himself in a pocket. Once he got himself clear of the others, he put in the huge strides with his strength getting him home,” a relieved Roberts said who added that Chief Dribble will now have a well-deserved week or two off.
Chief Dribble has won six Group staying races which sees his career wins now standing 33. He has placed in a further 19 races and he has banked $235,972 in stakes for his Melbourne-based owner Mandy Haines.
