Fernando Bale’s record-breaking run may be over but he is still on track to claim yet another major title.
The superstar greyhound (pictured, pink rug) was beaten into second place by Secret Spell in the fourth and final Group 1 Hudson Pacific Memorial Classic (525m) semi-final at The Meadows.
It was the first time ‘Flying Fernando’, who has won six Group titles in 2015 and captured the attention of racing fans across the country, had not saluted in 17 races.
The runner-up spot means Fernando Bale missed out on breaking Miss Elly Mint’s record of 16 consecutive TAB-level victories.
Fernando Bale has at least qualified for this Saturday’s $100,000-to-the-winner decider, where he can take his prize-money earnings to almost $800,000 with victory.
Unlike the previous week’s heats, Fernando Bale bolted out of box six on Saturday night and was hot on Secret Spell's heels heading past the post for the first time.
The pair bumped at the turn which seemed to throw Fernando Bale off his stride and forced him to play catch-up down the back straight.
Fernando Bale veered wide down the home straight in an attempt to find a gap, but Secret Spell held the inside line well to earn a deserved victory in 30.05.
The win took the Kelly Bravo-trained Secret Spell’s record to 17 wins and three minor placings from 30 starts.
It also extended Secret Spell’s terrific run at The Meadows to nine wins from 12 visits to the track.
Fernando Bale’s kennelmate Dyna Double One yet again impressed, winning the first semi-final in a superb 29.59.
That win took his record to 15 wins and nine minor placings from 27 starts and followed his 29.56 run in last week’s heats.
Emrys captured the second semi-final with a 29.93 effort, with Black Illusion (30.10) taking the third.
The other qualifiers for this Saturday’s final were Margins, Ivy Bale and Hogganaught.
Fernando Bale still looks the favourite for the decider after drawing box two for the final.
Andrea Dailly’s greyhound has three wins from four previous starts from box two, although he has not started from there since March.
Dyna Double One will start from box five, from which he has won four times from seven previous starts.
Secret Spell would have been a huge danger from the inside but instead drew the testing box six, from which she has two wins from four previous starts.
The Brooke Ennis-trained Margins drew box one and looks a decent outsider for the final.
He has two wins from three previous starts with the red rug, has been racing consistently well over the last few weeks and clocked 29.84 in the semi-final behind Dyna Double One.
Box draw for the Group 1 Hudson Pacific Maturity Classic Final (525m): 1. Margins 2. Fernando Bale 3. Ivy Bale 4. Black Illusion 5. Dyna Double One 6. Secret Spell 7. Hogganaught 8. Emrys. 1R: Evers Bale, 2R: Repayments.
