Lygon Leader

Inductee Hall of Fame 2024

Light brindle dog, Whelped 19 October 1979, (Darville’s Flyer – Lygon Girl), Owner Greg Fahey, Trainer Gary Fahey

Lygon Leader, nicknamed Elvis, was a versatile champion of the early eighties and started 70 times for 35 wins, 21 seconds and 4 thirds. Trained at Mangalore by Gary Fahey for brother Greg, he gave the Hall of Fame brothers an amazing ride, largely as a fast-finishing sprinter, and in late career as a remarkable stayer at the highest level nationally.

Gary with Lygon Leader following a victory in Devonport 1981.

A blue blood Victorian bred, by a Victorian Greyhound of the Year in Darville’s Flyer from Lygon Girl (10 wins from 17 starts), Lygon Leader’s acquisition was stranger than fiction. Greg had seen the dam win over 720 metres at Wentworth Park whilst on honeymoon in June 1979. Two months later he saw an advertisement in the Victorian Greyhound Weekly, for the litter yet to be born, promptly rang breeders Keith and Heather White, and made a purchase prebirth for $1000. Asking for a male pup, Keith White gave Greg an ear brand at 3 months of age, of a pup he’d called Elvis, and an agreement was reached to have him reared with his siblings.

This light brindle dog was such a laid back, friendly and stress-free fella, that it belied his great athletic ability. He broke in as a likely star right from the get-go and prior to his initial start he easily beat the brothers’ classy bitch Hopeful Vista in a trial. Despite this, his “April Fool’s Day” debut at Devonport in 1981 as an 18-month-old, was a third to Noble Cheveau after meeting severe interference.

Gary and Greg with ‘Elvis’ after success at Hobart 1982.

He soon rectified this with a 7 length Coca Cola Juvenile Heat win, and 1 length Final win over the 497 metres at the spacious Royal Showgrounds in Hobart. His first crack at the 502 metres at White City in Launceston was a Heat win of the Easter Purse, but he was a 1 ½ length 2nd to Sheila’s Sweetie in that Final. Remaining at White City, Gary set Elvis for the prestigious 1981 Gold Collar. After his 10 length Heat win over Roscoe Gillies, and a 3 length Semi win over Riverbank Star, he was sent out a 6/4 favourite in the Final despite an awkward alley in six. Nevertheless, Lygon Leader overpowered the smart Sapasha Miss, winning by 1 length.

A  2nd to Johnny Ash at Hobart with a jammed muzzle, was followed by a tilt at the 1981 Tasmanian Derby at White City. He rattled home to avenge Johnny Ash by just a nose in his heat, whilst his ½ length Final 2nd to top class sprinter Final Point was the best beaten run of his career, after being speared wide on the first turn and storming late. Next up he was a close 2nd to the powerful Onyx Apollo in Hobart, which made his record 12 starts for 7 wins ,4 seconds and 1 third.

LYGON LEADER WINNING AT HAROLD PARK (NSW), APRIL 1983 (AUDIO)

‘Elvis’ winning the 1982 Launceston Cup Consolation at White City.

Now 21 months of age, the Fahey brothers took their rising star to Melbourne for a tilt at the 1981 Silver Chief at Olympic Park. After his 5 length Qualifying Heat win, he was checked severely in the Semi Final when 5th to Rubinera. His next four in Tasmania included a win at his initial Devonport start and a brilliant 6 length Heat win in the open Winfield Classic at Hobart, before a Final 4th to Dennis Hulston’s wide running Cranlington.

Lygon Leader, at just 23 months, now headed to the 1981 National Sprint Championship. He was runner up in both the White City and Hobart heats, finishing powerfully in each. The State Final over the Showgrounds 497 metres saw hot favourite Regent Action an easy winner, with Lygon Leader storming late for a creditable 3rd. His first crack at a longer trip was a 573 metre Grade 4 at Devonport, where he overran star bitch Venezia in a smart 34.12. He bolted in a Devonport 432 metre Grade 4, in between winning his Heat of the Peter Jackson Classic at White City, and his desperately unlucky 2nd behind top class chaser Canon Express in that Final. He was peppering away the big events, and every race he contested from here on was against quality opposition.

LYGON LEADER WINNING AT HAROLD PARK (NSW), MAY 1983 (AUDIO)

Presentation of the 1982 Red Book Autos Stakes Final won by Lygon Leader.

Although the 432 metres of the Devonport Cup series was a touch sharp for this powerful light brindle, he ran home hard in his Heat 2nd to track star Quick Circuit, and equally so with a barnstorming 4th in his Semi, to the eventual Cup winner in Hall of Famer Wynlee Wonder.

His first run for 1982 was a slick 29.26 Showgrounds victory over Miss Sheldon, before a crack at the 1982 Launceston Cup. He made a meal of his Heat after a very slow start, but still won as a 4 to one on favourite. At another short threes on in his Semi-Final, he was too late to pick up the eventual Cup winner in Dinkum Smokey.

On Cup Final night, Elvis produced the run of his career to date. In a crack edition of the Launceston Cup Consolation, he gave star bitch Trudi Glass a start and a beating and ran quicker time than the actual Launceston Cup.

LYGON LEADER FLYS HOME TO RUN 2nd IN THE 1983 HOBART THOUSAND TO STONY POINT

‘Elvis’ charges to the line in a heat of the 1983 Launceston Cup.

His next four starts saw a second and three wins, including the Heat (from the brilliant Cool And Black), and Final of the 1982 Red Book Autos Classic at Launceston. Despite his customary slow getaway in the decider, he raced away to again topple Trudi Glass by 4 ½ lengths.

In March 1982, he lined up in his Hobart Thousand Heat, a resounding pre-post favourite for series. At fours on in the Heat, he destroyed his opposition over the testing 497 metres in a blistering 28.73. But tragic luck lay ahead. Once again, he was a red-hot favourite in his Semi, but when about to hit the front halfway, an offender fought him right off the track. He regrouped and reduced a massive gap to a photo finish 2nd, but it cost him a Final’s spot. Amazingly the Fahey brothers still won the Thousand with their classy second string Kudaleen. Worse luck followed when Lygon Leader badly split his webbing in the Thousand Consolation, sidelining him for the next 134 days.

LYGON LEADER WINS THE 1983 NATIONAL DISTANCE STATE FINAL THE SHOWGROUNDS

His first four runs back, saw one victory, two seconds and pinballing 6th in his second Winfield Classic Final behind Thru The Rye. His next mission was another crack at the National Sprint Championship for 1982. His first round Heat at White City, saw the champ finally nail the start in leading all the way from Tiventime. His Showgrounds Heat five days later was another resounding win over Spring Brandy in a best of night effort. The State Final at White City saw him go to the post a 2/5 favourite despite a difficult wide draw. But, after bombing the start he rattled home late for 3rd, but never threatened the high-class Canon Express.

To end 1982, he overpowered Onyx Leader in his Peter Jackson Cup Heat but was hampered by a fighter on the final bend when 2nd to Bronze Trail in the Final. His slow starts were making life hard against such a plethora of strong sprinters, but Lygon Leader kept racing brilliantly. Following a win and three seconds, he won his Tasmanian Gold Cup Heat but was flattened when only 7th in that Final.

Gary and Greg with ‘Elvis’ after winning a heat of the 1983 Hobart Thousand.

As 1983 commenced Lygon Leader would have another 17 starts at the most elite level, and at various distances and across three States. On 3 January, he lined up for another crack at another Launceston Cup. From box 7 as an odds-on favourite, the rattled home to beat Plain Blue by 2 lengths in his Heat. His Semi Final victory was a repeat, storming late from the rear to roll Alien Star. But again the Final wasn’t to be. After colliding heavily on turn one, he wound up 6th, amazingly the only time in his 27 starts at White City that he ever missed a place.

Five days later, the 1983 Hobart Thousand commenced. His 497 metre Heat was a runaway 4 length victory over Lennric. His fast-finishing Semi – Final 2nd to Ralfettia Rose was sufficient to secure his spot in Tasmania’s greatest race. In a stellar Final, he settled in a rearward position with crack Victorian Stoney Point just ahead of him. From the home both finished powerfully and swamped the leaders, but it was Stoney Point by ¾’s of a length with Lygon Leader a super 2nd. This was his final start in a sprint race.

Lygon Leader sets a new 725m TR in a heat of the 1983 National Distance Series.

Two weeks later, Gary Fahey set his star for the National Distance Championship. Having broken the Hobart 725 record in a solo trial, he was sent out a 5/4 favourite, and true to his trial, he smashed General Caper by five lengths after leading from the first turn. He also smashed Wynlee Wonder’s Track Record, posting 43.78. Nine days later the Launceston Heat of the Nationals saw him beat the smart Tasharco by 2 ½ lengths over the White City 722 metres, at fours on. In an outstanding National Distance State Final at the Showgrounds, Lygon Leader won by 2 ½ lengths. Again leading from the first turn, he left Tasharco and Miss Coroneagh behind in another brilliant 43.86.

This set up a home track 1983 National Distance Final at the Royal Showgrounds. In front of a boisterous home crowd, the race became a mighty two dog war. The star Victorian Ten Guitars led from box one, with Lygon Leader soon on his hammer from box five. He loomed on the home turn, but he just fell short, running a 1 ¼ length 2nd, with Queensland star Pewter Frost in 3rd.

Proud connections after Lygon Leader wins the 1983 National Distance State Final.

Now a proven stayer, the Faheys decided to test the waters in Sydney. Close family friend and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Brown took Elvis to Sydney for the 732 metre Tooheys Invitation at Harold Park, 22 days after his National 2nd. Without even a trial on the first grass track he had encountered, Lygon Leader produced the run of a true champion. Jumping straight on the lure from box seven, and despite running wide on the turns, he was never threatened in beating champion Victorian chaser Paper Raider by 1 ½ lengths, and National Distance finalist Certain remark in third. Ten Guitars was further back. Nine days later, and this time a 2/5 favourite, Elvis destroyed another 732 metre Harold Park Invitation, leaving N.S.W. star Certain Remark six lengths in arrears.

LYGON LEADER RUNS A GALLANT 2nd IN THE 1983 NATIONAL DISTANCE GRAND FINAL

The champ returned home for an all the way 4 length 722 metre victory at White City over the ageing Hall of Famer Miss Coroneagh. Another five days on, it was to Victoria for the feature 718 metre Tooth’s Trophy at Sandown. After working hard in the run he was 4th to Paper Raider in his Heat. In the Final a week later, Elvis was 3rd to the mighty Quick Pulse, beaten just two lengths.

Gary with Lygon Leader (right) and his Hobart Thousand winning kennel mate Kudaleen.

Bob Brown took Lygon Leader back to Harold Park 23 days later for Australia’s richest staying race, the Fury Ford Cup. His Semi Final win was such a courageous effort. When railing to win easily on the home turn, the gap closed, and he was badly checked. Regrouping, he showed his fighting spirit, holding off his nemesis Ten Guitars by just a neck. The 1983 Fury Ford Cup Final on 4 June, saw Lygon Leader run a brave 4th to Quick Pulse after working so hard in the run. Again Ten Guitars finished behind him. This was his final start. Returning home, the great dog injured a back muscle in a fitness trial and was retired.

Lygon Leader stood successfully at Stud until 1987 at Gary’s Mangalore kennels. His best offspring was Gentle Comet which was sold to N.S.W. after 3 wins. After further wins at Harold Park and Gabba, he was sold to U.S.A. interests at stood at Stud there. Pitcairn Jack was a 22-race winner, including Victorian success at Olympic Park and Sandown. French Leader not only won 19, but twice broke the 580-metre record at Devonport. Darrinelli Star won 15 which included 4 at Sydney’s Harold Park, whilst his brother September Reign won 7 including the 1986 Maiden Thousand and a Harold Park win in. Lygon Harry was one of Tasmania’s finest hurdlers winning 28 at the “up and overs”. Others smart winners included Some Shirt (10wins), Lika Flame (8), Lika Diamond (8), French Crown (7) whilst 3 of Lika Flame’s 6 wins were at Angle Park in South Australia.

Lygon Leader achieved so much in a combined sprinting, staying and Stud career. He won 35 of his 70 starts and was 21 times a runner-up. He made 21 Finals in three States and started favourite in 55 of those 70 starts. He remained a loved retiree at Gary’s until his twelfth year, and now joins the Tasmanian Hall of Fame.

View Lygon Leader racing record

By Brennan Ryan