By Duane Ranger
Southland owner-breeder Brendan Fahy says Rakarazor isn’t he best pacer he’s had but the talented 4-year-old is heading that way.
“She has some way to go to beat Raksdeal but she is improving with every run. She has learnt to race in front now which is encouraging.
“Simon (Lawson) said when the other horses came up to her the other night she found another gear. That’s very encouraging,” Fahy said.
Rakarazor and Lawson proved too tough in last Friday night’s $12,500 NRM Mobile for the R65 to R70 Pacing Fillies & Mares at Alexandra Park.
It was Pukekohe trainer, Gareth Dixon’s first win of the season and 349th in a career spanning back to 2002. He’s also had 613 place-getters and banked just over $4 million in purses.
Rakarazor and Lawson went around to the lead 300 metres into their 2200m mobile and that’s where they stayed for the remainder.
The Rocknroll Hanover mare stopped the clock in 2:41.6 (mile rate 1:58.2) with final 800m and 400m sectionals of 57.3 and 28.8.
She was the $2 favourite and had held out Eclipse Me (Sean Grayling) and My Kiwi Lady (Josh Dickie) by three quarters of a length and a length.
Rakarazor is owned and was bred by Fahy. She is the seventh of eight foals out of the two-win Son Of Afella mare, Rakarach.
“It’s all been a bit sad lately because we lost Rakarach when she was giving birth to a Christian Cullen foal.
“Ironically my daughter Rachel, whom the mare was named after, gave birth to Ellie Grace on the same day, so that was a great consolation,” Fahy said.
“It’s been both sad and happy times,” he added.
He said Rakarazor was closing in on the best two horses he had owned and bred – Raksdeal and Stands Reason. They won five ($121,096) and six races ($161,985) respectively.
Raksdeal was 2013-2014 Southland Horse of the year, and Fahy won his only Group One with Stands To Reason in the Nevele R 2yo Sires Stakes Final at Alexandra Park in May 1990.
Rakarazor has now won three of her 25 starts and placed 14 times for $52,975 in purses.
Fahy’s foray into harness racing started out with his foundation mare Sentimental Belle in the 1970s.
“She was a 1978 Lumber Dream and was the most expensive filly at the Yearling Sales. I remember I paid $10,000 for her,” Fahy said.
He said he was only drawn into harness racing by his Uncle’s neighbour who raced horses.
“Andrew Sellars lived across the road from my Uncle who I used to work part-time for. It all started from there really. I later sent Sentimental Belle’s full sister – Sentimental Reason to Andrew’s stallion, Stampede.
“The result was Stands To Reason and it’s all developed from there.
A sheep farmer by trade, Fahy now breeds from several mares on his property which is situated just south of the Makarewa River, and 15km south-west of Invercargill.
His nickname, which he was bestowed with at the mighty St Kevin’s College in Oamaru, is ‘Rark’.
“I watched the race on TV the other night and was pleasantly surprised how the mare won. I hope to get up there (Auckland) in December to watch her go around.
“Gareth is pleased with the way she has developed especially from two to three and now three to four. She’s potentially a good racehorse in the making because she has gone the times. She went 1:53.9 when finishing fourth in this year’s Jewels final at Cambridge,” Fahy said.
Meanwhile, Dixon said he would be talking to Fahy today (Monday) to plan Rakarazor’s future.
“I’ll know more later today when we talk but she will head to Sydney in the next month, and whether she tackles races at Alexandra Park like the (Group One) Queen Of Hearts in December is up to Brendan,” Dixon said.
“I’d doubt it though – more likely just the early December meeting,” he added.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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