Fernando Bale (pictured) proved himself the greatest sprinter of all time by making a one act affair of Saturday night's Group 1 Ladbrokes National Sprint Championship and the good news is the mighty Victorian-trained dog is set to return to NSW for the Dapto Megastar.
On Saturday the Andrea Dailly-trained, Paul Wheeler-owned greyhound gave another flawless exhibition to lead from the first turn and win by five-and-a-half lengths from NSW warrior Bessy Boo, with Queensland-trained, Hunter Valley-owned Keybow just under two lengths away third.
It was Fernando Bale's sixth Group 1 victory and his 10th in succession at Wentworth Park, with the champ stopping the clock at a personal best 29.26 after equalling his third split sectional record of 17.56.
"Fernando's next start is likely to be in the Dapto Megastar on September 11," Andrea Dailly's husband Tom said after the race.
"I said before tonight's race that I was happy with box five because for some reason it is one of the better draws at Wentworth Park.
"And Wenty is a track Fernando Bale absolutely loves."
Bessy Boo's trainer Christine Proctor was justifiably proud of her dog's second placing.
"It's no disgrace to be beaten by a sensational greyhound like Fernando Bale," Proctor said.
And Kel Lean, owner of Keybow, was also thrilled with his dog's third position.
"He was the oldest dog in the race and has now contested 10 group finals and been unplaced in only one of them."
Fernando Bale's win lifted his earnings to $873,110.
It was Victoria's night, Sweet It Is taking out the Group 1 Ladbrokes National Distance Championship with a new track record.
Sweet It Is, trained in Victoria by her owner Braden Finn, has now earned $976,806 and was always going to win on Saturday night when she was fourth away and settled down in third place.
Sweet It Is has rarely been so close to the pacemakers and after being second leaving the back straight she hit the front on the home bend to win by nearly nine lengths in 41.52.
That took 0.01 off the 720m WP record set by Xylia Allen in April, 2014 while Lady Toy completed a Victorian quinella when she finished a great second after completely bungling the start.
Earlier in the night Lithgow Panther had overcome a terrible start to win a top grade 720m in his personal best time of 42.12.
"Lithgow Panther's box manners have got me worried but what can you do, these slow starts are part of his make up," Chapman said.
"But I think Lithgow Panther's best form is ahead of him because he is getting more seasoned as a stayer."
Tap Out Rose meanwhile scored a consolation victory after just missing out on the National Sprint Championship
Tap Out Rose qualified first reserve for the National Sprint, but managed to run down Big Bad Brenda to win an earlier race in a personal best 29.81.
"Obviously it was great to win but I would have been more excited to have seen her in the National Sprint Championship because I have never had a runner in a Group 1 race like that," Tap Out Rose's trainer Rodney Metselaar said.
Trainer Justin King intends to nominate Miss Sueko for a Dapto Megastar Prelude on September 3 following her impressive all-the-way win in a fourth and fifth grade on Saturday night.
"She ran 29.71 tonight, not far outside her best Wentworth Park time of 29.67, and her run home time was terrific at 11.78," King said.
"But she loves Dapto and has won there in 29.69 so I plan to enter her for the Megastar Preludes."
See you next week!
