Unreal Speed tops Fanta Bale Stayers heats with 42.48 run

Group 1 Fanta Bale Stayer heat 1: Ethanol Water (42.73)

Ethanol Water showed tremendous determination to take out the opening heat of the Fanta Bale Stayers at The Meadows, surging late to secure her place in the final with a gutsy performance.

Trained by Thomas Dailly, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and My Ethanol found herself in trouble early, shuffled back through the field after an initial promising start.

Flying Envy took advantage of the early mix-up, setting the pace with Shake And Bake looming as the biggest danger.

As the field turned for home, Ethanol Water regained her momentum, powering down the outside to reel in the leaders.

Despite never looking completely comfortable in the run, the $1.50 bookmaker favourite proved her class, stopping the clock at 42.73 to win by three-quarters of a length over Shake And Bake, with Flying Envy holding on for third.

Kennel representative Josh Formosa was full of praise for the bitch’s resilience, admitting it wasn’t the most convincing of wins but highlighting her ability to dig deep when it mattered.

“She jumped pretty well, which is what you wanted from the inside draw, and then she kind of got overtaken, but she came again late.

She showed that she’s a true star,” she said.

“She was gonna lead. She got shuffled back, checked off heels. She looked like she was gone and come again. It was a massive run.”

Despite some inconsistency in recent weeks, the Dailly camp is confident in keeping things business as usual for the lead-up to the final.

“Just the usual. Same as last week. We don’t change too much and just trust the system, and it, yeah, shows that it pays off tonight,” Formosa added.

With a spot in the final now secured, Ethanol Water will look to refine her performance and peak at the right time as she eyes another Group victory.

Group 1 Fanta Bale Stayers heat 2: Groovebird (42.62)

Groovebird delivered a powerhouse front-running display to claim the second heat of the Fanta Bale Stayers at The Meadows, leading from start to finish in a slick 42.62.

Trained by Jeff Britton, the talented bitch made amends for her narrow defeat in the Zoom Top last week, this time building a commanding lead early and holding on strongly to secure her place in the final.

Jumping cleanly from Box 2, she quickly took control of the race, stretching out to a comfortable break over Raya Star, with Irish Millie settling into a stalking position.

As they straightened for home, Irish Millie loomed as a late danger, cutting into the leader’s margin, but Groovebird dug deep to prevail by 1.75 lengths, while Infra Rock produced a strong finish to claim third.

Kennel representative Christiana was thrilled with the performance, acknowledging Groovebird’s growing strength over the staying trip.

“She did. And, look, I’m never 100% confident with these sort of races, but she had a good box tonight in race in Box 2.

“And I just thought if she gets clear, it’s gonna be hard to run her down,” she said.

Groovebird has now qualified for her fifth Group final, with Christiana admitting her charge has a preferred draw range that suits her racing pattern.

“She likes Box 2, 3, 4. That’s sort of her range, and that’s what I was hoping to get in the Sale Cup. I ended up picking the eight,” she said.

With her time improving by several lengths from last week’s performance, Groovebird is shaping up as a serious contender for the final.

With confidence high in the Britton camp, all eyes will be on Groovebird as she chases her first elite-level victory in next week’s final.

Group 1 Fanta Bale Stayers heat 3: Unreal Speed (42.48)

Unreal Speed delivered a devastating mid-race burst to claim the final heat of the Fanta Bale Stayers at The Meadows, stopping the clock at a slick 42.48 and stamping himself as a major contender for next week’s final.

Trained by Robert Britton, the son of Space Star and Shiny Bright settled midfield early as Facetious crossed from the outside to lead, with Pass Mark and Late Night News also prominent.

But once Unreal Speed found open air, he unleashed a breathtaking turn of foot, surging past his rivals down the back straight to take control.

Despite concerns over his fitness following an extended layoff, the , held firm in the closing stages, holding off the fast-finishing Late Night News by 1.75 lengths, with Pass Mark filling the minor placing.

Kennel representative Peter Riley was full of praise for the performance, highlighting the greyhound’s extraordinary acceleration.

“Absolutely.

“Like, he did it when he broke his maiden.

“He ran 29.8, you know, that’s the only 500 he’s ever had.

“His mid-race speed is amazing.

“I still think he’ll take benefit from that run,” Riley said.

Unreal Speed has always been a greyhound with intrigue, with the Britton team stepping him straight up in distance after just one start over 500m.

“The times he was running at 14 and 15 months old would make you shake your head.

“It actually surprised me when the boss stepped him up from the 500 to 600 straight away, but he said he was always gonna be a stayer.

“That’s what he looked like, and that’s what he is,” Riley added.

With an elite burst of acceleration and now a strong staying performance under his belt, Unreal Speed shapes as one of the X-factors heading into the Group 1 final.

If he can reproduce his mid-race move on the big stage next week, he could be a serious threat to his more seasoned rivals.