Champion Fernando Bale is continuing to re-write the record books and looks ready to claim yet more silverware at this Friday’s Group 2 Southern Cross Ten Bendigo Cup (425m).
The superstar sprinter (pictured) underlined his status as one of the greatest greyhounds ever to race with an incredible 14th successive victory in the heats of the $47,000-to-the-winner series last night.
Exploding from the red alley, Fernando Bale bolted home by more than eight lengths in a jaw-dropping 23.38 – a new record at the Victorian track.
The Andrea Dailly-trained greyhound, whose magical year so far includes four Group 1 titles, will start this Friday’s decider at prohibitive odds.
His win in the heats was his 22nd victory in 27 starts and lowered the previous track record – set by Black Magic Opal in 2001 – by half-a-length.
It was yet another memorable performance by Fernando Bale and came just eight days after his race-record success in the Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic decider at Wentworth Park.
Victory in the decider would push the son of Kelsos Fusileer and Chloe Allen’s prizemoney levels past the $650,000 mark.
Shared Equity qualified second fastest for the final with a superb 23.60 run.
This year’s Warragul and Warrnambool cups winner Ronray Spirit also qualified with a 23.72 run and will jump from box eight in the final.
Terrence Reid’s consistent greyhound, who also qualified for the Golden Easter Egg final earlier this year, now has 18 wins from 33 starts and looks the biggest threat to Fernando Bale in the decider.
NSW will be represented in the final by Antony Azzopardi’s Paua To Roar, who qualified as a $6.60 shot with a solid 23.92 effort.
Paua To Roar will jump from box six in the final.
Other qualifiers included Mepunga Armagh (box one), Billo’s Pick in box two, box four’s Breathing Fire and Fearless John in box seven.
The latter was a $31.20 shot but beat a field containing the likes of formidable Allen Deed and handy Estranged.
Margins and Dyna Villa are the two reserves.
Most of Victoria's top greyhounds were entered for the high-quality series, with the likes of Group winners Luca Neveelk and Elfen Bale missing out on a final spot.
