Fernando Bale has enjoyed a faultless preparation in the lead-up to what will likely be his final race start in tonight’s Group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup (515m).
The Andrea Dailly-trained champion ($1.55 favourite with Sportsbet) jumps from box six in tonight’s $420,000-to-the-winner decider at Sandown Park, targeting an incredible 12th Group title.
Fernando Bale (pictured), who looks certain to be retired to stud duties after this race, qualified for tonight’s race with a typically brilliant 29.06 effort from box one in last week’s heats.
With five wins from six previous starts from box six, kennel spokesman Tom Dailly said it was all systems go for the superstar greyhound.
“He is as good as gold,” Dailly said. “It’s been business as usual this week getting him ready.
“The box draw is not a concern. You just hope he steps as normal. He enjoys Sandown Park and if he gets out cleanly, you know he will be hard to beat.”
Victory here would cap a stunning career for Fernando Bale, who has become the talk of the greyhound racing across the globe with his remarkable achievements.
The son of Kelsos Fuslieer and Chloe Allen, who earlier this year became the first greyhound in history win more than $1 million in prize money, has built a mighty record of 33 wins and four minor placings from 40 starts.
Fernando Bale’s toughest opponent here looks like kennelmate Dyna Double One (box two, $2.70) who upstaged Fernando Bale in last week’s heats and looks ideally drawn in box two.
Dyna Double One ran a brilliant 29.05 last week and has won all five of his previous starts wearing the checks.
“Dyna Double One is certainly boxed nicely, but he will have to get out as well as he did last week,” Dailly said.
“His problem is that he cannot allow Fernando to get too far out in front or it will be hard for him to run him down.”
The Dailly kennel may be on for the trifecta tonight with a third hopeful – Dyna Tiber ($26) – jumping from box three.
Dailly rates Brett Bravo’s Secret Spell (box eight, $14), who scored a victory over Fernando Bale at The Meadows earlier this year and ran 29.34 last week, as the best of the rest.
“He can win from out there and he has a superb record,” Dailly said.
“Really, they’ll all be hard to beat. We haven’t thought at all about a trifecta. Yes, it’s great to be involved, but we’ll just treat it like another race.”
The Steven Collins-trained Lamia Bale (box seven, , who will also likely be retired after this race, is shaping as the best roughie chance.
A four-time Group winner, she returned to form with a terrific 29.42 effort and is one of the few greyhounds to defeat Fernando Bale.
Bearville Azza, ZIPPING Meg and Black Illusion complete the field.
The Group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup jumps at 9.08pm (local time).
The meeting will also feature the Group 1 Bold Trease Carnival Cup (715m) decider, with $100,000 to the winner.
Another Andrea Dailly-trained greyhound, Bourbski Fever (box three, $2.50), is racing superbly at the moment and looks the favourite here.
For Sportsbet's prices on Sandown Park tonight, click here.
Group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup Box Draw (Sportsbet Prices in brackets): 1. Bearville Azza ($21) 2. Dyna Double One ($2.70) 3. Dyna Tiber ($26) 4. ZIPPING Meg ($26) 5. Black Illusion ($101) 6. Fernando Bale ($1,55) 7. Lamia Bale ($41) 8. Secret Spell ($14).
Prices correct at the time of writing.
