Top dog’s winning record

CHAMPION Lara greyhound Fanta Bale will retire Australia’s highest earning dog after winning a record ninth Group 1 in Saturday’s Australian Super Stayers final.

The Robert Britton-trained bitch surpassed Fernando Bale’s record of $1,299,370 by claiming the top prize of $100,000, taking her career stakes beyond $1.365 million.

Anakie trainer Andrea Dailly also had a night to remember, claiming her fourth Australian Cup with star dog Hecton Bale.

Angela Langton, also from Anakie, trained secondplaced dog Hasten Slowly.

“It wasn’t all bad for Fernando Bale tonight because he is the sire of Hecton Bale,” said Paul Wheeler of NSW, who bred and owns Hecton Bale, Fernando Bale and Fanta Bale.

“Fernando Bale is siring plenty of quality winners, and Hecton Bale is no exception.”

The NSW breeder/owner was left in awe of Fanta Bale, who jumped beautifully from box one as the $1.80 favourite but was challenged throughout by Sale Cup-winning West Australian, Quick Jagger.

“I thought at the 600 metres boxes she was spent, but she has a heart like I’ve never seen,” Wheeler said of Fanta Bale.

“She can lead or come from behind.

“Sometimes it’s as if she has a jockey on her back weaving her through traffic.

“She’s one of the best Australia has seen, if not the best.”

Wheeler said Fanta Bale, who is the only Australian greyhound to win Group 1s as a sprinter, middle and staying performer, has defied all logic with what she has been able to achieve.

“She broke in as fast as a sprinter,” Wheeler said.

“So it’s incredible that she is a stayer because stayers simply don’t show they can sprint when they are brokenin.”