Champion stayer Fanta Bale’s newest progeny is a superstar
Put the name Cain Bale in your blackbooks now.
The veteran of just two career starts is the budding superstar of Australian greyhound racing.
Cain Bale has quietly just won his first two starts in totally contrasting races, but both wins were highly impressive.
On Wednesday, September 27, Cain Bale led most of the way on his debut at The Meadows to record a very fast 29.81 win.
That win qualified the son of Feral Franky and Fanta Bale for Saturday night's maiden final at The Meadows.
Having drawn box one, most expected Cain Bale to lead again and just win, but Cain Bale missed the start, ending up lengths behind the field in last.
The run from there for a greyhound only having his second race start had to be seen to be believed.
Clearly endowed with a large portion of his mother's ability to run home hard, Cain Bale took runs under dogs before switching around the field and winning from dead last in 30.21.
The Meadows Maiden Final – Cain Bale (30.21) T: Mark Delbridge
Champion-staying bitch Fanta Bale retired in 2018 with a then Australian greyhound prizemoney record of $1,365,175 earned over 63 starts that netted 42 wins and 14 minor placings.
Among her 42 wins were nine Group 1 titles, from the Meadows 525m Australian Cup title right through to her last Super Stayers final over 730m at The Meadows, now renamed the Fanta Bale Super Stayers.
But record-breaking success on the track doesn't always equate to high success in the breeding barn.
Cain Bale is from Fanta Bale's fourth mating, which was to Feral Franky for the first time, and resulted in a litter of four dogs and three bitches whelped in October 2021.
With one dog not making the track, all six remaining dogs have been placed by Brendan Wheeler with Victorian greyhound trainer Mark Delbridge; although Cain Bale at this stage looks the absolute standout.
Much like his champion mother, Cain Bale's future may well rest over journeys longer than The Meadows 525m, and his performance on Saturday night did nothing to dispel that opinion.
Australian greyhound racing fans should strap in for an exciting ride while watching the career of Cain Bale unfold.
The youngster is showing a track sense beyond his experience, and he has a depth of pedigree that means he is capable of winning Group 1 races at sprint, middle and staying distances; just like his dam.