Hecton Bale (pictured with Korie Heinrich) is already a feature race winner over Sandown Park’s mid-distance and he’s searching for an opportunity to take out another when he lines up in a heat of the McKenna Memorial tomorrow night.
He raced at Albion Park last Thursday in a heat of the Winter Cup where he finished 3rd. Although a tad disappointing, team Dailly representative Tom Dailly says Hecton is well within himself since returning home and ready for tomorrow night’s challenge.
“I thought he was a little bit ordinary in Brisbane, but he seems to have pulled up well and will be right to go tomorrow night,” said Dailly.
Hecton Bale won the listed Maidment Memorial (595m) at Sandown Park in January and just two months later took out the group 1 Australian Cup (525m) at The Meadows.
“He’s probably better suited to 595m but he can find it a little awkward on the bend start. It just depends on where he’s drawn.”
He will jump from box 8 in his heat with the in-form Dutch Legacy and Fernando Express on his immediate inside.
“He does like it out wide. He might be looking at a few rear ends early but he should get a clear enough run to be close to them.”
Hecton Bale is the $2.50 favourite to take out heat 3 with tab.com.au.
Another runner engaged for the kennel is Flying Flyer. She’s an Irish import who was purchased by Tom’s brother George and has made a good start to her career down under.
She features in the opening McKenna Memorial heat and meets superstar of the sport Tornado Tears.
“She might finish 2nd,” laughed Dailly.
“He’s a flying machine Tornado Tears, I’ll be quite surprised if she can beat him.”
Tornado Tears is Australia’s most exciting chaser and many have him tabbed as potentially one of the sport’s greatest ever. But 20 starts into his career, how does he compare to recent champions? Click here to find out more.
The winner and runner-up of each heat will advance to next week’s $40,000 to-the-winner group 2 McKenna Memorial final. Follow @sandowndogs on Twitter for the latest information throughout the night.
Click here for tomorrow night’s fields
