The stars are bright, Fernando


Fernando Bale is the best greyhound in the country.

That was the verdict following the striking white and brindle’s comprehensive victory at Sandown Park last night.

For the 15th time in 19 starts, Fernando Bale was sent to the boxes as the race favourite and soon showed the traits that have the greyhound racing world abuzz.

Fernando BaleJumping cleanly from box 6, Fernando Bale crossed Sisco Rage to lead through the first turn. Fernando Bale then accelerated away from the field, running to within a length of the second split record before powering to the line and stopping the clock at 29.10 – the fastest time at the View Road circuit in 2015.

“He’s probably the best race dog I’ve ever had,” said kennel representative George Dailly.

“It’s quite amazing really, he’s got that speed early and strength at the end. It’s a wonderful combination, you don’t get them like that very often.”

The Dailly kennel are no strangers to fast dogs. In recent years, the Daillys have prepared group 1 winners Dyna Tron, Allen Deed, Ollie Bale, Spud Regis, Grigorieva Bale and Dyna Lachlan, as well Sandown track record holder Bekim Bale and litter brother and former Meadows track record holder Heston Bale.

“After tonight’s run I think he’s as fast as Bekim Bale. The track isn’t particularly quick and on a warm night I’m sure he could have gotten close to that track record time (28.96).

“Obviously Bekim Bale had a freakish final section but would always need a bit of luck whereas this bloke creates his own luck being faultless from the boxes.

“A lot of dogs are one dimensional – they can lead or they the come from behind – but he can do both. In his heat of the Golden Easter Egg I thought he was gone, next thing you know he’s five lengths in front. He’s a very good chaser.”

‘Very good’ is an understatement from the modest Dailly. A respected local form analyst declared that on his ratings, Fernando Bale is ‘unbeatable in any race he contests.’

“His kennelmate (Dyna Double One) could beat him in a two out trial, but his box manners costs him races. They are clearly the best two dogs in the country and at present Fernando Bale is number 1.”

FernandoBaletofirstturn16apr15Ominously, at just 25 months of age Fernando Bale – form and fitness permitting – could have another 12 months (or more) of top class racing in front of him.

He already has two Group 1 titles to his name and with last night’s win, he passed $400,000 in prize and moved to 35th position on the all time Australian prize money list. Number 34 on that list is the great Brett Lee, a greyhound to which some pundits are already comparing Fernando Bale.

“I’ve heard a few people say that,” said Dailly.

“I had a bloke come up to me in Sydney saying that he’d been in the game for 65 years and he told me that he is the best dog since Zoom Top. People are quick to use the tag ‘champion,’ but in my view a champion is a dog that does things others can’t do. They can produce things that you think just can’t be done.

“As well as he’s going at the moment I think it’s a bit early to put him in that category. But if he keeps going the way his then it might be a different story in 12 months.”

While owner Paul Wheeler flirted with the idea of retiring the speedster to stud following his Golden Easter Egg triumph, Fernando Bale’s next assignment will be the rich Sandown autumn carnival with almost $150,000 up for grabs for the sprinters.

“We decided to skip the Queensland Derby and concentrate on the series at Sandown. He’s done a bit of travelling recently which he handled really well – he’s such a quiet dog and is so professional about how he goes about his racing. But it doesn’t matter who the dog is, after a while they can get jaded with the travel so it’ll be nice to stay home and focus on some local racing.”

And with Fernando Bale set to take centre stage, so will greyhound racing fans everywhere.

The Sandown Autumn Carnival kicks off on Thursday 30 April and culminates with the RSN Sandown Cup on Thursday 21 May. The four weeks of outstanding greyhound racing carries more than $800,000 in prize money across eight black type races.

 

What the Twittersphere said:

 

Fernando Bale

 

29kg white and dark brindle dog
Breeding: Kelsos Fusileer x Chloe Allen
Trainer: Andrea Dailly
Owner: Paul Wheeler
Starts: 19
Record: 14 wins, two minor placings
Prize money: $404,130 (35th all time)
Consecutive wins: 6
Runs since unplaced: 12
Feature wins: Group 1 Golden Easter Egg, Group 1 National Derby
Best Times:
Sandown Park: 29.10
Meadows: 29.71
Wentworth Park: 29.34
Ave starting price: $2.70
Started favourite: 15 times (even money or better 8 times)
Average winning margin: 5 lengths

 

Fernando Bale scorches around Sandown Park in 29.10