Fernando Bale is the undisputed fastest greyhound in the country.
The faultless beginner holds split records at the country’s three premier race tracks – Sandown Park, The Meadows and Wentworth Park – and at just 26 months of age he has already claimed two group 1 titles and is a $1.15 chance with tab.com.au to make it a third on Thursday night.
So impressive has he been and so similar is his racing style that many are already comparing the white and brindle speedster to the great Brett Lee.
The Dailly kennel, which has seen some of the fastest greyhound of modern times pass through the kennel, is not buying into the debate.
“I’ve heard a few people say that,” George Dailly recently told sandowngreyhounds.com.au about the comparisons to Brett Lee.
“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 he is then it might be a different story in 12 months.”
But where’s the fun in waiting 12 months to make such comparisons? Let’s take a look at where the two champions stand after 21 starts in their respective careers:
| Brett Lee | Fernando Bale | |
| Age | 26 months | 26 months |
| Record | 17-3-0 | 16-1-1 |
| Ave win margin | 8L | 5.3L |
| BON | 15 | 11 |
| City wins | 7 | 11 |
| Longest winning streak | 6* | 8* |
| Group 1 wins | Adelaide Cup | National Derby |
| Australian Cup | Golden Easter Egg |
* Current streak
Brett Lee would go on to win two more group 1 finals – the Maturity and the Golden Easter Egg – to finish his racing career with 30 wins from 37 starts and $405,106 in prize money before embarking on a distinguished career at stud around the world as well as a place in the GRV and AGRA Hall Of Fames. Fernando Bale has already won $417,590 in prize money – largely due to the increase in stake money across the country – has been touted a potential ‘million dollar’ greyhound and has attracted enormous interest at stud.
Is Fernando Bale the best since Brett Lee? Could he finish his career as greyhound racing’s ‘top dog’?
Join the discussion on our Facebook page or on Twitter (@sandowndogs) using the hashtag #FlyingFernando
Click here for your free Watchdog formguide for tomorrow night’s big group 1 meeting.
Brett Lee’s brilliant Australian Cup win
Fernando Bale becomes the second greyhound to break 29 seconds at Sandown Park
