The Southlander is based in Pukekohe and works there as a stallion manager for Alabar's Australasian breeding enterprise.
Alabar lost the services of its champion sire, Mach Three, on Saturday, after he was found in his paddock with a broken leg.
The 18yr-old was not up and about at feeding time on Saturday which had Alabar staff concerned, Fahy said.
``One of the guys went out to feed him.''
``Then we both went out and he was sitting down.''
Fahy found the horse with a severely swollen rear leg, unable to get up.
The particular sort of break he sustained was common in older horses. How it occurred would most likely remain a mystery and be put down as a freak incident.
``He wasn't an old horse. He was 18, but he was in good fettle. We don't really know what happened.''
A veterinary inspection left no option but to have the horse humanely euthanised.
``He is buried here at the farm right next to Vance Hanover and New York Motoring.''
The staff at Alabar were deeply saddened by the sire's death and had received an outpouring of messages from around the racing world, Fahy said.
Fahy first saw Mach Three when he was working in Canada in the mid 2000s. The stallion, who had a fine record of 18 wins and six placings on the track, stood at Tara Hills Stud in Ontario throughout his North American breeding career.
Fahy moved back to New Zealand to work at Alabar, at the same time Mach Three also moved into Alabar as a newly recruited sire.
``He has been here as a long as I've been here.''
The stallion manager will remember Mach Three as a kind horse who was a pleasure to have around.
``He was a breeze. He obviously knew he was a stallion, but to do anything with - to lead him or handle him - a kid could have led him around, to be fair.''
``He was really good. He would never kick you or bite you. He was a gentleman, really.''
A prime example of the horse's friendly nature was when the stallion was led into the breeding barn before his stud duties, he would want his head to be scratched.
``Each morning he would push you in the back because you always had to give him a scratch on the head.''
Mach Three has certainly left his mark around the world having sired a raft of big-race performers.
``He gave us a lot of joy and a lot to owners and breeders around the world as well.''
``Of all the big stallions of the day ... he is the only one who has left sons that are good at stud, like Somebeachsomewhere.''
Mach Three has produced 1297 offspring to date, with total earnings of about $US100million, according to Standardbred Canada figures.
Those numbers are headed by Somebeachsomewhere, now a highly successful sire in both hemispheres. His race record stands at 20 wins from 21 starts and over $US3million in stakes.
In New Zealand, Mach Three's progeny have won 1311 races and more than $17million to date.
His best performers include Venus Serena as well as Auckland Reactor and Sir Lincoln, who both now stand at stud themselves.
In the South, Mach Three's best performers include former Graeme Anderson-trained pacer Belkmyster and reigning Southland Horse Of The Year Costa Del Magnifico.
The latter will contest the Invercargill Cup on Saturday. So, too, will a fellow son of Mach Three, Alta Ronaldo.
Another in the race is Classie Brigade, whose dam, Trigirl Brigade, is also by Mach Three.
Footnote: Mach Three, who stood for a fee of $11,000 this breeding season, arrived at Alabar New Zealand in 2010, but had been available to New Zealand breeders since 2007.
- Jonny Turner
