Fernando Bale had to endure an early check before taking out an action packed Group 1 National Derby at Wentworth Park.
Jumping from box seven, Fernando Bale (pictured, winning his semi-final) copped a heavy bump from Topper Road (in box eight) shortly after box eight.
But the Andrea Dailly-trained greyhound stuck to his task, winning by 2 1/4 lengths in 29.87.
Click here to watch a replay of the National Derby.
Before the box draw Topper Road's trainer Anthony Azzopardi declared that from box seven or eight his greyhound would "crash" to the fence - and that’s exactly what he did.
“From behind the boxes I could hear the thump as Topper Road, who had box eight, veered in and hit Fernando Bale," Azzopardi said.
“To keep pushing up and still be in a position to take the lead going through the catching pen was an amazing effort on Fernando Bale’s part."
But despite being severely crowded from box rise to the first turn, Fernando Bale continued to drive forward to be third at the first bend.
That’s where his luck changed because his kennelmate Lektra Outlaw (box one) shifted right and climbed onto the heels of pacemaker, Tasmania’s Dark Vito.
When Dark Vito was dragged down Fernando Bale was able to sweep around both him and Lektra Outlaw to race to a winning lead.
In the first turn scrimmage Bad Boy Sniper railed through to be in second position on the back straight and he ran home strongly to be beaten two lengths, with Winsome Prince a distant, but gallant third.
Winsome Prince ran off the track and collided at the first turn, coming from fifth at the catching pen to snare the minor prizemoney.
Discussing the race later, trainer Andrea Dailly said: "I don’t think Lektra Outlaw was happy about being pressured from his outside."
"But Fernando Bale has continued to surprise us because while he has always had ability and was promising early in his career, he has really come good over the past few weeks.
"He will now tackle the Group 1 Australian Cup heats at The Meadows on February 28 and after the series there are the Golden Easter Egg heats at Wentworth Park on March 21."
Meanwhile, ZIPPING Midge surprised even trainer Jason MACKAY by heading off fastest qualifier Spring Leaf to score an easy win in the Group 1 National Futurity at Wentworth Park.
Rocketing out of the boxes, ZIPPING Midge set a first section time of 5.37, leading the field through the first turn and was never headed, winning by three lengths in 29.80.
Click here to watch the replay of the National Futurity.
MACKAY was delighted with the victory although admitted he had considered ZIPPING Midge only a roughie chance.
“I am a realist and did not think ZIPPING Midge could win a Group 1 event at only her ninth start, especially from box six," he said.
"I expected Jingjing, in box seven, to cut ZIPPING Midge out at the start but fortunately for me and owners Marty and Fiona Hallinan, ZIPPING Midge came out humming."
Spring Leaf chased ZIPPING Midge from the first turn to finish second with her kennelmate Dyna Nico, trained by Andrea Dailly, holding third spot from that point to the finish.
There was drama when Ella Has Class, who had been first to jump, broke down and failed to complete the course.
The win took ZIPPING Midge's record to five wins from nine starts and she has now earned almost $90,000 in prizemoney.
