FERNANDO Bale looks set to cap his remarkable career with victory in the $600,000 TAB Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park on Friday night.
Despite drawing the unfavourable box six, Fernando Bale’s exceptional early speed will see him head into Friday night’s classic at a short quote.
In what is shaping as his final campaign, Fernando Bale was sent to the boxes the $1.10 favourite in his heat last Friday – the 22nd consecutive race he’s started at an odds on quote – and his customary explosive early speed allowed him to open a three-length lead on the field passing the post for the first time.
He extended that margin with every stride down the back straight before stopping the clock at 29.06 seconds to record a stunning 7.5 length victory.
The win was the 25th in his last 27 starts and 33rd overall, and will be aiming to maintain his perfect group race record when he takes his place in Friday night’s $600,000 group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup final.
“He’s a champion, that’s all I can say,” said his emotional trainer Andrea Dailly.
“I wasn’t nervous going to the boxes, but once I put him in the box I thought ‘geez I hope he wins’. There’s been a lot of hype about him retiring after the Cup and I really wanted to see him compete in the big race because he deserves to, he’s a champion.”
A win in next week’s final would be his 12th group race victory – the 9th at group 1 level – and take the white and brindle superstar’s prize money to $1,588,110.
“A lot of people have come to the track to see him – it’s a really nice feeling knowing how many people enjoy watching him race.
“Because we’re with him every day it’s easy to take him for granted, but when you see a crowd like tonight it reminds you just how special he is.”
Despite dominating his heat, Fernando Bale cannot afford a misstep in the final, with an outstanding field assembled to challenge him in the world’s richest greyhound race.
Leading the charge is kennelmate and fastest TAB Melbourne Cup heat winner Dyna Double One.
The TAB Melbourne Cup is the eighth group 1 Dyna Double One has qualified for, but despite being placed in five of them, he is yet to break through at the highest level.
Come On Fantasy, Kilkee Flex and Ryno’s Raider also recorded heat wins, and will be joined in the final by Kraken Flash, Bourbski Flyer, Lady Toy and Lithgow Panther.
$600,000 TAB MELBOURNE CUP FIELD (515m)
FRIDAY 20 NOVEMBER, SANDOWN PARK
BOX GREYHOUND/TIME TRAINER
1 Bearville Azza (29.48) Robert Britton
2 Dyna Double One (29.05) Andrea Dailly
3 Dyna Tiber (29.60) Andrea Dailly
4 Zipping Meg (29.55) Brooke Ennis
5 Black Illusion (29.64) Angela Langton
6 Fernando Bale (29.06) Andrea Dailly
7 Lamia Bale (29.42) Steven Collins
8 Secret Spell (29.34) Brett and Kelly Bravo
RESERVES
9 Sacramento Sal (29.51) Jessica Sharp
10 Blue Revolver (29.53) Wayne Vassallo
