Fernando Bale did not nail the start in his usual flawless manner but that did not stop Australia's wonder greyhound scoring another 10 length win and clearly posting the fastest qualifying time in Saturday night's semi-finals of the Group 1 Rapidvite Peter Mosman Classic at Wentworth Park.
While he usually jumps in front, Fernando Bale (pictured) misjudged the start slightly and after being third or fourth to leave the boxes was trailing local "lid pinger" Rubelly Magic at the first turn in the first semi-final.
But he swiftly moved around Rubelly Magic to hit the front leaving the catching pen and then proceeded to draw away for another tremendous victory.
Rubelly Magic had recorded a quick first split of 5.34 with Fernando Bale then posting 13.71, 17.80 and an overall time of 29.47, just 0.04 wide of his fastest heat time a week earlier.
Fernando Bale's litter sister Kenju Bale got up to finish second, immediately giving Victorian trainer Andrea Dailly two finalists next Saturday.
But there was more good news to come for team Dailly with Dyna Double One running down Camacho to win the second semi final by nine lengths in 29.54.
Then the Daillys' Ladies Bracelet winner Elfen Bale gave Australia's most successful training establishment 50% of next week's final lineup by exploding from the boxes to win the third semi final in 29.86, clocking a sizzling 5.33 to the first mark.
Tullabung Honey, trained at Yass by former shearer Neil Staines, upset NSW's top hope No Donuts in the fourth semi-final, recording 29.91 in an all-the-way win.
The box draw has infused the final with enormous interest as No Donuts came up with box one, Fernando Bale in the "squeeze" box four and Dyna Double One in eight.
The full box draw for the Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic on Saturday is: 1. No Donuts 2. Kenju Bale 3. Elfen Bale 4. Fernando Bale 5. Camacho 6. Dear Darcey 7. Tullabung Honey 8. Dyna Double One Reserves: 9. Lektra Outlaw 10. Entreaty.
Looking closely at the box draw, Fernando Bale could have been in trouble in the final had his sister and kennelmate Elfen Bale, arguably a faster beginner than her brother, drawn outside him.
But she could actually help Fernando Bale by crossing to the rails and crowding No Donuts, who is only an average beginner and wants to push up the track slightly.
However bookmaker Mark Merlino believes Fernando Bale can be toppled next week if speedy Camacho, who rails well and has box five, happens to jump ahead of the champ.
The rapidly improving Camacho, who boasts the marvellous record of 13 wins and five placings from just 24 starts, cost only $1400 as a puppy.
Ray Smith, a member of the syndicate of five which races the Ron Bell-trained dog, said on Saturday: "Camacho is a good dog but is a 'shandy' short of being a top notcher."
Dear Darcey's trainer John Ayoub sounded a note of warning to his dog's rivals when he commented: "If my greyhound begins smartly from box six, which he can do, he won't do those drawn inside him any favours because he will want to charge to the fence."
Tullabung Honey's trainer Neil Staines was philosophical about his greyhound's box seven draw.
"The box doesn't matter to her, it all depends on whether she can find the front at any stage," Staines said.
"If she does she will be hard to beat because she is a far better greyhound on the bunny and when she leads is very hard to run down."
Tullabung Honey is owned by Robert Hill, who attended primary school at Condobolin with Staines before losing touch with the trainer for several decades.
"I am a builder and was doing a job for a greyhound identity and when that influenced me to buy some greyhounds I tracked Neil Staines down and he has been my trainer ever since," Hill said on Saturday night.
See you next week!
