Fanta Bale’s fourth litter might have unearthed her best progeny yet
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.
Tenthill Doll and Highly Blessed, who were the best of their generation, would lay testament to that.
But after four litters, Fanta Bale may have produced a son to Feral Franky; that may be the exception that proves the rule.
Fanta Bale's first mating was to homebred sire Dyna Villa, which produced six individual winners from a litter of four dogs and two bitches.
The best of the Dyna Villa litter was Drako Bale, who won the 2022 Group 3 Fireball over 730m at The Meadows.
The second Fanta Bale litter by Barcia Bale produced four dogs and one bitch, with one dog failing to make it to naming.
Of the four greyhounds from that litter to race, all were winners, with 2022 Cup Night Sprint runner-up Quebec Bale comfortably performing the best.
Fanta Bale's third litter was to champion sire Fernando Bale, producing two dogs and three bitches, with one of the bitches being rehomed before being named.
Of the four greyhounds named from the third litter, two are still yet to race, and one is still a maiden after 12 starts and has been onsold.
Rhino Bale is easily the best of that litter, being the 2023 Group 3 Easter Gift runner-up at The Meadows.
The fourth mating to Feral Franky 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.
Having just received their names in the last few weeks, four of the litter were entered for 525m maiden heats at The Meadows on Wednesday night, Xira Bale for Ballarat on Wednesday night, and Zanab Bale for Geelong on Friday night.
Of the four greyhounds to head toward The Meadows, Betsie Bale, Wincey Bale, Yogen Bale and Cain Bale were spread across four maiden heats.
While the results were mixed for the majority of the litter racing today, the performance of Cain Bale was outstanding.
After beginning only average from box seven, the son of Feral Franky and Fanta Bale was able to assume control of the race by the winning post the first time and only got quicker in the run to the line.
Making his race debut, Cain Bale won by 5.53 lengths in 29.81.
The Meadows Maiden Heat Sept. 27, 2023 – Cain Bale (29.81) T: Mark Delbridge
To put the run in perspective, only rising star Stomping, who has won five of 13 starts so far, ran quicker at The Meadows on Wednesday night, winning in 29.74.
Cain Bale will next be seen in the $5,900 to-the-winner maiden final over 525m at The Meadows on October 7, 2023.
Much like his champion mother, Cain Bale's future may well rest over journeys longer than The Meadows 525m, but based on his debut performance, those future starts could be amongst the elite of Victoria's middle distance and staying greyhounds.