Tassie star’s success bound by unbreakable family bonds

By Pat McLeod

Ageless distance star Raider’s Guide may exude a tough track persona.

However, the Tasmanian’s career-long success is cushioned by unbreakable family bonds.

On Thursday night the three-time Group 1 victor unleashes his staying aura across the Group 2 Super Stayers Invitational Final on the Q2 Parklands circuit at The Q.

It’s an epic four-dog showdown worthy of Raider’s Guide’s headlining appearance – his first race start in Queensland.

However, as kennel lieutenant, Carol Martin, explains, her family’s ‘best ever’ dog is just ‘part of the family’.

“He has been close to us all since he was born,” Carol says.

Carol is the daughter of Tasmanian greyhound legends Gary and Bev Fahey.

“He was part of a four-puppy litter and Mum, Dad and I took it in turns to be with the pups every four hours for the first four weeks," Carol says.

“And, I am a bit of a softie, so I prefer to sleep with the pups to make sure they are OK.”

As one of those four pups grew into track phenomenon, that closeness has continued with Raider’s Guide.

“So, right through we have had a one-on-one contact with him,” she said.

“When he goes away, we (Carol and Bev) travel with him. He has only been with us when he goes away. We just love him.

“When we come to Queensland on Wednesday we will stay in an Airbnb.

“We select that accommodation really carefully because it has to be one that is dog friendly, with a fenced-in backyard, nice and quiet, close to the track.”

The close family bonds have shaped Raider’s Guide’s career.

It’s meant far limited distance race opportunities in Tasmania, but has resulted in a ‘still fresh’ four-year-old with the compelling stats of 39 wins, 21 placings and $586,570 in prizemoney from 76 starts.

“There were quite a few conversations about placing him with somebody on the mainland,” Carol reflects.

“The thought of that was enticing. But, the reality was there was never any doubt from Dad or myself that we would part with him. We normally keep and race our dogs if we can. The simple fact is, Raider’s Guide has come at the most perfect time.

“Dad is 81 in August. His health has not been great in recent times. At this stage of his life Dad believes it is more about the journey than the things that sometimes go with it.

“So, to have this dog at home with him and for Dad to be able to prepare the dog himself, that outweighs everything else. It is truly a massive achievement that Dad can get up every day, look at his dog and say ‘wow, we have done this all ourselves’.

“We can all look at Raider’s Guide and say, ‘We bred him. We bred his whole line, on this property and in this one little area of Tasmania’, and I believe that trumps everything else.

“All of our dogs are special, but there is no doubt that there is a couch with this one’s name on it at Mum and Dad’s, forever.”

Raider’s Guide may come into Thursday night’s clash with a light preparation because of the scarcity of close-by distance racing opportunities.

However, his last start triumph in the Group 1 Sandown Cup, on May 23, shows that age has not yet wearied him.

Despite that form guide, Carol says the younger brigade of brilliant bitches on Thursday night – Queenslander Autumn Storm (trained by Tom Tzouvelis), South Australia’s Apilla (Damien Smith) and Victoria’s Ethanol Water – would expose any chink that 'Father Time' may have left in the Apple Isle’s hero.

“You would have to put a bit of a question mark over whether he is as good now as he has ever been,” she said.

“Only time will tell if a dog of his age is as good as he was this time last year. He is against some extremely good younger dogs.

“Once a dog turns four and no matter how much I love this dog, you accept that at that age dogs are usually past their peak.

“But, in saying that, he has been a very lightly raced dog. And. he is such a good dog and so focused at the track.

“I know we will go up there with a good, healthy, handsome dog who will do his best. But, it is a really, really good field.”

Carol admits that not even the closeness and cuddles from her and her Mum and the support of Dad, back at Mangalore, just north of Hobart, can keep their champion racing for much longer.

“This will probably be one of his last campaigns because of his age and the travelling, which does take a lot out of him,” she says.

“Ideally, he would be back for the Group 1 Queensland Cup. But, it just depends how he pulls up after the flight up and then the same after the race and the flight back.

“If he does that really well then the plan would be to bring him back for the heats (June 26) and the Final (July 5) of the Queensland Cup.

“If not, then we will have to re-evaluate. There is also the possibility of whether we try to keep him up for the Nationals (at The Q) in late  August, which is a long time to keep him fit. But, whatever the outcome and wherever he is, we will be with him.

“It is just as though your babies are running and you just want to make sure they are OK.”