Paul and Jan Wheeler’s sprawling greyhound nursery of champions at Murringo – some 160 kilometres north east of Wagga – famously qualified seven runners for the 2011 Melbourne Cup at Sandown.
Dyna Tron secured that Group 1 Cup from Shereen Bale and Allen Elroy in a display of high speed. The only 2011 Cup aspirant not bred by the Wheeler family was Enry Walt and he finished at the tail of the field in the $200,000 to-the-winner event in 29.21 seconds.
At Wagga tonight, history is not quite repeating itself, yet five of the Wheeler team – all with the Bale suffix this time – contest the $25,000 to-the-winner Ladbrokes Graeme Hull Memorial Gold Cup - listed as the Wagga Gold Cup prior to 2013.
Three of the four May 14 heats were secured by “Team Bale” with rising star Usman Bale making an impressive Wagga debut. The son of Fernando Bale posted a smart 30.14 seconds to account for 2020 Bendigo Cup winner Yozo Bale by a clear 5 ¼ lengths.
The 'non Bale' heat was snared by Victorian Cha Cha Charlie which, at his local debut, zipped by Keenando passing the 400m boxes and held on to account for Knicks Bale in 30.27.
Just two lengths separate the four heats winner’s time yet the beaten division - runners up Yozo Bale, Second Exit (pictured), Winlock On Top and Knicks Bale - remain live chances in the Group 3 final.
As a two-time black type winner, Yozo Bale possesses the high speed and clear upside to atone for his second to Usman Bale. He’s banked a massive $245,900, saluting in 23 of 61 starts and has raced in open company for more than 12 months.
His quality is there for all to see yet the emergence of Usman Bale – at only 21 months of age – is significant. His $12,155 in earnings represent a fraction of the finalist’s $652,000 collective bounty but there’s more in store for the Wheeler family and trainer Samantha Ferguson.
Usman Bale’s a star on the rise and his first tilt at black type will be all-but on home ‘turf’.
