Fernando Bale headlines a stellar night of racing at Sandown Park this Thursday night that will see 64 of the country’s best sprinters competing for a berth in the group 1 Harrison Dawson and group 1 Sapphire Crown.
Dubbed by some as ‘the best since Brett Lee,’ Fernando Bale (pictured, right) registered the third fastest time ever at Sandown Park (29.04) in April and is already a dual group 1 winner with 15 wins and over $410,000 in prize money from his 20 career starts. He will go head to head with kennelmate Dyna Double One, fresh from his scintillating win at The Meadows on Saturday night. The pair have met three times previously (once at Sandown, the Meadows and at Wentworth Park), with Fernando Bale emerging victorious on each occasion. Out to upset the Andrea Dailly prepared speedsters include group finalists Emrys, Targaryen and Xtreme Knocka.
Others lining up in the heats of the male greyhound only Harrison-Dawson include Melbourne Cup finalists Keybow and Luca Neveelk, the first three placegetters from the Launching Pad Usain I’m Nutty, Targaryen and Fever Pitch, and last start group 3 winner Sisco Rage.
Highlighting the quality of the series, the 32 runners have combined for 408 race wins and over $3.6m in prize money. All but three runners have already won at Sandown Park.
Fernando Bale’s litter sister Elfen Bale leads the way in the female only Sapphire Crown. The last start group 2 Ladies Bracelet winner is yet to break through at the View Road circuit, but boasts nine wins from 21 starts and has been placed in each of her past 10 starts.
Elfen Bale will need to be at the top of her game in order to progress to next week’s final, lining up against group 1 winner and Melbourne Cup finalist Star Recall which is having her first start since February, and Weblec Rose which has the fastest winning time in the Sapphire Crown series (29.24).
Other notable runners include dual Sandown group race winner Lamia Bale, 2014 Sapphire Crown runner up Oakvale Flyer, and group 2 Queensland Futurity winner Over Here which will make her Sandown Park debut on Thursday night.
The winner and runner up from each heat will progress to their respective final on Thursday 14 May where they will chase the $100,000 first prize in each final. The box draw for each final will be conducted on course during Thursday night’s meeting and will be streamed online.
Click here for full fields and form for Thursday night’s meeting.
