Fernando Bale is back in action this Thursday after his latest triumph - and his NSW fans may get another chance to see the superstar again soon.
‘Flying Fernando’ (pictured) took his prizemoney levels to just shy of $800,000 with his win in the Group 1 Hudson Pacific Maturity Classic (525m) at The Meadows.
Last Saturday night’s victory made it an incredible seven Group titles in 2015 for Andrea Dailly’s gun greyhound, who triumphed with a stunning 29.50 run.
Handler George Dailly said he had no qualms about entering Fernando Bale for this Thursday’s Victorian Sprint heats at Sandown Park, despite his hectic year.
“We were thinking about giving him a rest, but he pulls up that good,” Dailly said.
“If he doesn’t race then we would have to get him fit by trialling and I hate trialling greyhounds as anything can happen.
“It would be diabolical if anything happened to Fernando, but especially if he got hurt in a trial.
“He is not yet two-and-a-half (and) he loves racing, so we’ll keep going for now.”
The son of Kelsos Fusileer and Chloe Allen took his career record to 25 wins from 31 starts with a commanding success in the $100,000-to-the-winner decider.
Jumping from box two as the $1.40 favourite, he set first and second track record sectionals to win by more than five lengths.
Kennelmate Dyna Double One was second, with the Brooke Ennis-trained Margins third.
Dailly said the victory more than made up for Fernando Bale missing out on a record-breaking 17th consecutive TAB track win in the previous week’s semi-finals, when he was second to Secret Spell.
“That was disappointing but he got knocked about at the first turn (in the semi),” Dailly said. “If he hadn’t, I think he would have run the leader down.
“To run 17.30 down the back (in the final) was unbelievable. No greyhound runs that time.”
Fernando Bale will jump from box three in the first Victorian Sprint heat (race four) at Sandown on Thursday.
The opposition includes Group race winners Kayda Shae (box four) and Elfen Bale in box six, but Fernando Bale will still be hot favourite.
The series concludes with next week's decider.
Victory in the Victorian qualifier would secure Fernando Bale a place in the Group 1 National Sprint titles at Wentworth Park on Saturday, August 22.
Despite Fernando Bale’s stunning achievements, Dailly said it was ‘business as usual’ for the kennel.
“He is a beautiful dog (but) we try and treat him exactly the same as the others,” he said. “We just get him as fit and ready for the boxes as we can.
“I’ve said before that I would probably be working on the roads if we didn’t have the chance to train for (owner) Paul Wheeler.
“We are just fortunate to work with him and with these beautiful greyhounds.”
Racing is under way at Sandown Park at 7.09pm (local time).
For Sportsbet's prices on Thursday night's racing at Sandown, click here.
