Superstar greyhound Fernando Bale experienced the unusual taste of defeat last week but still looks the one to back in Saturday night’s Group 1 Hudson Pacific Maturity Classic (525m) decider.
Fernando Bale (pictured), who has captured the attention of racing fans across the country with his incredible 2015, jumps from box two in the final with question marks against him for the first time in his amazing career.
The gun greyhound’s bid for a 17th consecutive victory – a new record at TAB track level – was ended last week when he finished second in his semi-final behind Secret Spell.
That pedestrian - for him - 30.16 effort also followed his previous week’s struggle in the heats, when he started tardily and had to work hard before winning.
With his superb record of 24 wins and three minor placings from 30 starts, though, Fernando Bale must be the favourite here to land the $100,000 top prize.
Victory would extend his prizemoney earnings to almost $800,000 and secure a seventh Group title of the year for the Andrea Dailly-trained son of Kelsos Fusileer and Chloe Allen.
Secret Spell would surely have been a huge threat if she had drawn better than box six must still be respected.
Kelly Bravo’s greyhound is quality perfomer with 17 wins from 30 starts, including three triumphs in her last five races.
She has two wins from previous starts jumping from box six and loves her trips to The Meadows, with nine wins from 12 previous starts here.
Secret Spell has never run sub-30 seconds for the 525m at the Meadows but cannot be discounted here.
If Fernando Bale was not involved then kennelmate Dyna Double One (box five) would surely be an overwhelming favourite for the $100,000 top prize.
Dyna Double One’s incredible recent record features six wins from his last nine starts, a track record at Albion Park and four successive sub 29.60 runs at The Meadows.
He has four wins and three minor placings from the squeeze box and if he gets a clear run, he will surely be tough to stop.
Of the rest, Margins (box one) looks the most tantalising value chance of causing an upset.
The Brooke Ennis-trained greyhound has won or placed in seven of his last eight starts, ran a strong 29.84 last week and has two wins from two previous starts with the red rug.
Hogganaught (box seven) is in superb form but would surely need a lifetime best performance to threaten here.
Ivy Bale (box three), Black Illusion in box four and box eight’s Emrys complete the field.
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Group 1 Hudson Pacific Maturity Classic Box Draw: 1. Margins 2. Fernando Bale 3. Ivy Bale 4. Black Illusion 5. Dyna Double One 6. Secret Spell 7. Hogganaught 8. Emrys.
