Even champion Victorian trainer Robbie Britton was in awe of his greyhound Fanta Bale's majestic performance as she gave her top flight rivals a lesson in chasing at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Fanta Bale, a renowned front-running middle to long-distance star, came from behind to win heat two of the Group 3 Chairman's Cup (720m) by more than eight lengths in a blistering 42.25.
“I have a big opinion of the Queenslander Outside Pass and when she swept around my greyhound in the early stages, I thought to myself, 'oh, we are in a bit of trouble here’,” Britton said.
“To see her regain the lead on the back straight and then run home in 12.52 to win so comfortably was a remarkable effort.”
Although Fanta Bale had won the Group 1 National Distance Championship over 710m at Albion Park eight days earlier, Britton has never regarded her as a “dyed-in-the-wool” stayer.
In the other heat, Mr. Shire, who trailed faultless beginner Tahlia's Way to the back straight, surged to the lead approaching the home turn to win in 42.59, running home in 12.85.
The box draw for Saturday’s Chairman's Cup has made the 720m final more open, with Fanta Bale drawing box five.
“That is a tricky draw because she has two front runners, Outside Pass and Tahlia's Way, drawn inside her in boxes three and four,” Britton conceded.
Mr. Shire's trainer Bob McColm was delighted when his dog drew box seven, despite exiting box one to win his heat.
“When Mr. Shire has run track records at provincial tracks he has done it from outside boxes,'' McColm said.
“If he drawn inside in the final he would be likely to get cut out in the early stages by the speedier front runners crossing to the rails.”
Box draw for the Group 3 Chairman's Cup is: 1. Billy's Bake 2. Cadalora 3. Outside Pass 4. Tahlia's Way 5. Fanta Bale 6. Caco Potion 7. Mr. Shire 8. Jalapeno. Reserves: 9. Starzsa Light 10. Sherbini.
