NSW greyhound racing fans should see superstar Fernando Bale at the forthcoming Group 1 Nationals but he is aiming to get there in style this Thursday night.
‘Flying Fernando’ (pictured), Australia’s current number one greyhound, qualified for the National Sprint title at Wentworth Park later this month with his win in the Victorian Sprint heats last Thursday night.
That victory means Fernando Bale, as the Australian Greyhound Racing Association's highest point scorer, has earned a wild card for the $75,000-to-the-winner National Sprint decider on Saturday, August 22 regardless of how he performs in the state final.
Andrea Dailly’s greyhound will still have a run at Sandown Park in the 515m decider as he aims to add another title to his amazing record.
The son of Kelsos Fusileer and Chloe Allen has captured the attention of the country with his phenomenal 2015, which includes seven Group race victories.
One of those was his brilliant win in the Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic on his last visit to Wentworth Park in June.
Click here to watch a replay of that run.
Last week’s victory at Sandown Park took Fernando Bale’s record to an incredible 26 wins from 32 starts.
Flying Fernando was close to his best as he defeated a decent field with a scorching 29.34 run.
He jumps from box seven this Thursday in a star-studded final featuring no less than six Group race winners.
The line-up also includes this year’s Group 2 Bulli Gold Cup winner Kayda Shae (box one) and double Group winner Ronray Spirit in box two.
One ominous statistic for the rest of the field is that Fernando Bale has won on his last six visits to Sandown Park and has only tasted defeat there once.
He also has two wins from three starts in box seven, although his only failure from there was that single loss at Sandown Park in January.
This is race six at Sandown Park and they jump at 8.52pm (local time).
South Australian and Queensland Sprint and Distance finals also take at Angle Park and Albion Park on Thursday night.
In-form Young Gun McBain (box two) and Group winner Luna Jinx in box four seem the ones to back in the SA Sprint and National deciders.
Double Group 1 winner Keybow (box three) and Mullaway in box five look the picks for the Queensland titles.
For Angle Park Thursday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
For Albion Park Thursday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
