Caption: Greg and Gary Fahey have enjoyed over 60 years of success in greyhound racing

GROUP 1 LADBROKES

HOBART THOUSAND SERIES

461 METRES / BEST 64 NOMINATED

HEATS: THURSDAY 10 DECEMBER 2020

FINAL: THURSDAY 17 DECEMBER 2020

By Brennan Ryan

Greg and Gary Fahey have produced a successful chapter within Tassie greyhound racing.

The Hall of Fame duo are brothers and have had a great love for the long tails for over sixty years having embraced all aspects of racing in which they have bred, reared and trained some high-quality gallopers from Gary’s kennel establishment at Mangalore, outside of Hobart.

Gary is still training on while Greg is well established as a professional greyhound punter.

Of all their big wins the 1982 Hobart Thousand stands out without question for the Faheys.

From an advert in the greyhound guide in eighties for a 12-start Victorian maiden winner Greg paid just $400 for a Temlee sired chaser with fair form, but ‘chronic’ problems.

“It was an odd situation how we came about getting the dog,” Greg Fahey said of Kudaleen.

“Peter Pearson advertised Kudaleen in the guide on behalf of the previous trainer. No one had made any enquiry on the dog and so I paid the $400 and the rest is history. The dog arrived here to Tassie having won only his maiden at Geelong and remained unplaced in 12 starts.

“The dog had chronic metacarpal soreness. Gary had worked wonders in fixing the problem. Within in 76 days the dog won a Hobart Thousand – there is no better feeling I can tell you.”

‘Tiger’, also racing as Kudaleen made his Tassie debut for a seventh placing at Devonport.

In just his first ten career starts under Gary’s training prowess the Temlee – Kuda Star brindle chaser was victorious in winning a heat, semi and final of the rich Hobart Thousand series.

Kudaleen started the 1982 event winning his heat by 2-1/4 lengths running 29.64 over 497m.

He made it through to the $7,000 final winning his semi over Summderdown Son, scoring by 4 lengths on the line to register a slick 29.06 seconds and start as 3/1 favourite in the final.

The Faheys made their first Thousand final with a dog that showed a great amount of ability.

Kudaleen was last out from box three having to chase after Lord Amazon who led early. In working to catch the tearaway leader Kudaleen swamped the field from out wide, going away to win the big finale.

‘Tiger’ won by 2-1/2 lengths from Count Devo with Lord Amazon running on a game third.

It proved to be a great training feat by Gary and Greg a reward for patience and perseverance.

A dropped back muscle ended Kudaleen race career, retiring with 15 wins and 12 placings from 41 starts.

“Being by Temlee, a lot of the progeny had eye problems and towards the end Kudaleen had gone blind. We kept him as a pet for a long time and he lived a real happy life,” said Greg.

FBI or Fahey Brothers Incorporated, as they are affectionally known, had more success coming. Champion sprinter-turned-stayer Lygon Leader (x Darville’s Flyer) won 35 races of his brilliant career from 70 starts making 22 finals and winning four of those in great fashion.

Known to the Faheys as ‘Elvis’, the great brindle chaser won the 1983 State Distance Final brilliantly before backing up again over the gruelling 725 metre staying trip in the National Distance Final in which he finished an unlucky second behind the Victorian stayer Ten Guitars.

Elvis went on to stud after a great career and he produced with success from limited matings.

Greg and Gary continued to race many fine chasers throughout the years, including Young O’Reilly (24 wins).

In late 2012 the Fahey brothers made a successful deal to secure Dennes Point for breeding.

It was her first mating to Mogambo that set Greg and Gary on another stellar ride of success.

Four litters followed from the lightly raced Go Wild Teddy bitch that exploded to a milestone effort of 217 wins to date and her progeny won several classic races in Tasmania.

Breaker’s Tip (28), Just Browsing and Sacred Shadow (22 wins) are the top progeny earners.

Greg and Gary Fahey continue their love of racing to date having bred from daughters of Dennes Point. Dual Tasmanian and Country Oaks winner Jouster currently has a litter of 10 pups by triple group one winner My Bro Fabio on the ground.

Greg says Kudaleen’s victory in the Hobart Thousand will be remembered forever.

“Winning a Hobart Thousand is hard to achieve and thanks to Kudaleen we’ve done that,” he said.