THE 2015 Golden Easter Egg results show there must be something in the water out at Murringo.
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It was predicted Paul and Jan Wheeler’s four dogs would be strong contenders in the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park, Sydney, but even they didn’t envisage the degree of the outcome on Saturday night.
Favourite Fernando Bale, Dawkins Bale and Dyna Nico brought home the goods in the form of a trifecta.
Winner Fernando Bale gave the Wheeler family their third Golden Easter Egg but son Brendan revealed that Saturday night’s result was the clan’s first trifecta.
Fernando Bale is being hailed as an equal to previous winners Brett Lee, Paua To Burn and Tenthill Doll after his record-shattering performance.
The greyhound rocketed over the sloshy track in 29.48 seconds, taking .12 of a second off the race record set by Don’t Knocka Him in 2012.
But while Wentworth Park is many lengths faster these days than it was a decade ago, no one would argue Fernando Bale’s effort wasn’t among the finest.
The National Derby winner timed the start to perfection, crouching down with his face against the front of box eight as the lure approached.
“His ability to nail the start is uncanny,’’ Brendan said.
“Once he settles in the box he is like a statue, he doesn’t move a muscle as he anticipates the lids lifting.’’
Paul said Fernando Bale was only two years old, which is extremely young to have won the races he has at his level.
“So he’s doing exceptional as a young dog,” he said.
The Andrea Dailly-trained Fernando Bale defeated the Jenny Hunt-prepared Dawkins Bale by nearly four lengths with Dyna Nico, from the Andrea Dailly kennel, snaring the minor prize money.
“When you get through to a race like that it’s usually the best dogs in the country that’ll end up getting through to those finals, and to get one into the final is an achievement, but when you can get four through and trifecta it, it is most unusual and very exciting,” Paul said.
“It’s thrilling and I hope we can do another three - it was terrific.
“To take out the two biggest races in the nation in the last six months is an extremely good effort for the whole business.”
The Wheelers also excelled in several other races, including the Ambersoley won by Lamia Bale at Wentworth Park, and the New Zealand Darby won by Dyna Viccas.
In total the Wheelers’ prize money for the weekend reached around $375,000.
