Fanta Bale is already regarded one of the country’s most exciting chasers, and she is quickly earning a reputation as one of the most determined.
The well supported $1.30 favourite began fairly from box 3 but collided with Resident Djay drawn on her inside. She recovered to lead through the first turn, and with Mepunga Tyler on her outer, pair cleared away from the pack.
Fanta Bale maintained her narrow lead down the back straight as Mepunga Tyler surged on the turn for home. In a thrilling run to the line, Fanta Bale held on to win by a neck in 34.08 for the 595m journey.
“She had to do it hard,” said handler Peter Riley, deputising for trainer Robert Britton.
“She bumped into the dog on her inside and did well to find the lead but then still had a lot to do. I don’t think the track is quite as quick as last week but she’s run a time anyone would be pleased with.”
The win was Fanta Bale’s 15th from just 20 career starts and the eighth from her last nine, her only loss in that span being a narrow defeat in a heat of the Melbourne Cup. She is already a group 1 winner having claimed the Hume Cup at The Meadows in October, and the kennel is eyeing further group race success.
“That Hume Cup win really opened my eyes to what she’s really capable of. We’ve always had a huge opinion of her but to hold off those dogs in that race was just huge. She’s getting better and better each start and getting more confidence with each run.”
Fanta Bale has a number of options for her next racing assignment. Heats of the group 3 Sir John Dillon Memorial (595m) will be conducted at Sandown Park next Thursday, and she is also eligible for the group 2 Laurels (greyhound racing’s equivalent of the Victorian Oaks) on the following Sunday. While the two series are run concurrently, it is possible to contest both as Lamia Bale showed when winning both in 2014.
Click here to see Fanta Bale win her 15th career start.
Bruce Tycoon completed a treble for the Robert Britton kennel in the following race (Rock Up Top had already won the night’s opening event) and turned in one of the most impressive runs of 2016.
Sensationally backed into $1.70 favouritism, Bruce Tycoon bombed the start and was four lengths adrift of the field past the post the first time.
Showing great chasing instinct and terrific field sense, Bruce Tycoon had found himself in the lead by the end of the back straight and powered to the line to win by a length in 29.67. The win impressed not only wowed the punters on track, but also the man on the end of the lead.
“I thought It was all over, he had no chance,” continued Riley.
“I gave up on him and started watching Lithgow Panther (trained by Robert Britton’s father, Allan). Bruce just stuck to the rail and found a way through, to win like that after missing the start like that is just unbelievable. He’s a dog you love to have in your kennel, he just tries his heart out.”
Bruce Tycoon, already a group race winner over the 595m at Sandown Park, will now progress to the heats of the group 3 Sir John Dillon Memorial next Thursday night.
Click here for full results from last night’s racing.
Bruce Tycoon comes from a long last to win the Free For All
