9 minute read
AT THE POST
Fernando Bale with studmaster Paul Westerveld
Record-breaking Fernando a revolution
BY ANDREW COPLEY Fernando Bale was named the 2019-20 Greyhound Clubs Australia Sire of the Year at the annual GCA awards on 20 September. It was the second straight season Fernando Bale has received the prestigious award following a career on the racetrack which saw him land eight Group 1 wins and $1.29m in stakes. “The Sire of the Year is always a really significant award for any stud dog to win, in my opinion,” proud studmaster, Paul Westerveld said. Fernando Bale was inducted into GRV’s Hall of Fame 12 months ago for his achievements on and off the racetrack, and the collective performances of his offspring since that special moment has seen his star continue to rise. His progeny amassed more than 5000 wins during the 2019-20 Racing Season, including 12 Group 1 victories and a record $16.2m in prize money. Among his top performers during the season were Whiskey Riot and Sennachie, who captured five Group 1s between them and are now forging their own respective careers at stud, while his older progeny includes the likes of Tornado Tears, My Redeemer, Poke The Bear and Dyna Patty. “For Fernando Bale’s offspring to be so successful at group level is a huge achievement,” Westerveld said.
“He has been producing pups that compete at the highest level from the word go, and it’s been non-stop ever since.” Westerveld has a philosophy on what makes the sevenyear-old son of Kelsos Fusileer (USA) and Chloe Allen such a phenomenal sire. “He is renowned for producing pups with fantastic, easy going temperaments and I think the fact they aren’t overly big dogs, they really suit two turn racing, which is why his progeny have dominated metropolitan tracks,” Westerveld said. “And the fact he is sired by an outcross has also contributed to his success at stud, and this hopefully enhances the breeding potential of his female offspring going forward.” A young family based in Victoria’s south-east, the Westervelds are thrilled to have Fernando Bale among their small team of sires at Meticulous Lodge. They cherish every moment with him and take nothing for granted. “We just take it day by because the future is never certain when you’re dealing with a sire’s fertility, but he’s still going strong and filling quotas. We are also fortunate to have a decent amount of storage vials put away for when the time comes that he retires from stud duties.” “He is a beautiful dog at home who loves his routine. He’s very easy going, brilliant to handle and it’s just an honour for us to be able to look after one of the all-time greats every day,” Westerveld said. After a racing career guided by Andrea Dailly that have many regarding him as the best ever, very few, if any greyhounds have burst on the Australian stud scene like Fernando Bale. May his success, and the accolades that go with it, continue.
Popular columnist lost to the sport
BY ANDREW COPLEY Victorian greyhound racing lost one of its great characters when experienced trainer Darryl Embling passed away in late August at age 64 after more than 50 years in the sport. Darryl was a journalist for National Greyhound Form newspaper, penning the popular ‘Bushwacked’ articles, while he was also the anonymous writer behind the ‘Man In The Tree’ column, a must-read feature of the publication thanks to his humorous anecdotes and polarising views. But there was much more Darryl, who grew up in Geelong before moving to Rokewood and then Cape Clear. “As a teenager dad was a slipper for the Victorian Coursing Club in Geelong, when greyhounds coursed at the old Geelong thoroughbred track,” son Clay Morrison revealed. “He loved his greyhounds and he loved coursing.” “He was six foot six and was quite a handy basketballer as a junior, but he got more enjoyment out of training greyhounds so he ended up giving basketball away to concentrate on his dogs.” Clay said Darryl was a caring person who would always put others - and his greyhounds - before his own wellbeing. “He loved walking his dogs. He’d walking them every morning and night for at least 50 kilometres a week for many years, even if he was feeling sick or carrying an injury.” “He could talk underwater with a mouthful of marbles – he once spoke to a wrong number that called the house for hours.”
“He was also into his music and was part of a group called Plasebo Cure, which released four albums and performed regularly in the Ballarat region. He would sing and play a number of instruments. One of the songs he wrote was called ‘My Greyhound Isn’t Grey’.” Clay recalled an incident at the Ballarat greyhounds some years ago which typified Darryl’s easy-going nature. “Although dad was a big man he never used his size to intimidate people. I remember being at the Ballarat greyhounds with him one night when I was quite young and someone was getting stuck into him about something he had written. Dad just sat back and listened, and the guy was getting angry and frustrated because dad wasn’t arguing back. In the end dad said ‘I apologise if I’ve offended you but it’s my job to report on things as I see them’, and he offered to buy the guy a cup of coffee.” “That was dad. Even though he could talk under water with a mouth full of marbles, he would never force his views on anybody and was always happy to listen to other people’s opinions. He would never judge anyone and didn’t have a bad word to say about anybody.” Darryl, you’ll be missed.
TOPGUN (525m) & TOPGUN STAYERS (725m) Races to be conducted on Saturday 7 November 2020 at The Meadows
1. The Topgun Selection Panel (noting the GRVGrading Department are not a part ofthe Panel) will liaise and invitations will be issued to the trainers of selected greyhounds inviting them to nominate their greyhound(s) for the selected event up until midday Thursday 22 October.
2. The Pane l may invite any greyhound deemed worthy in their opinion of a nomination giving consideration of each greyhound’s current ‘Aged Prizemoney Value’, recent Group Race form, recent overall form, and recent Meadows form.
NB:
The Club r eserves the right to extend late nominations. Recent is defined as the six‐month period prior to 22 October 2020. 3. The winner of t he Group 1 Adelaide Cup (to be run on Friday night 9 October) will be offered a direct entry into the final field of the Topgun 525m.
4. All Nom inations are to be submitted directly to GRV Racing Services on (03) 8329 1100 before 12 Noon on Thursday 22
October 2020. Nominations will be cross checked by GRV Racing Services to ensure only those invited greyhounds are able to be nominated.
5. F inal nominations will be published on Friday 23 October 2020.
6. The pane l will then meet on Sunday 25 October 2020 to finalise their recommendations of eight (8) runners plus two (2) reserves in both the 2020 Topgun (525m) and the 2020 Topgun Stayers (725m).
7. The C hairman of the Topgun selection panel will meet with the GRV Grading Department on Monday 26 October, to submit the Topgun Panel’s recommendations for the final fields. Fields will be finalised by the GRV Grading Department in accordance with GRV Local Rule 28.2.
8. The f inal fields will be announced on the Catching Pen on Tuesday 27 October.
9. The box draw will be conducted at The Meadows on Monday night 2 November (Hume Cup Night).
10. Priz emoney for the event is designated as:
G1 TOPGUN SPRINTERS –525m
G1 TOPGUN STAYERS –725m
11. MGRA a nd GRV will not reimburse any expenses (including travel expenses) incurred by owners and trainers in relation to greyhounds being selected to compete in this event.
12. Ow ners and Trainers consent to the use of their own and their greyhound’s names and images for promotional and/or advertising purposes as required by The Meadows or GRV or any other organisation approved by The Meadows or GRV in relation to greyhounds being selected.
13. GRV Lo cal Rules of Racing and Greyhounds Australasia Rules apply to this event.
What can the Participant Support Line (PSL) help me with?
The PSL can assist with any enquiry relating to your obligations or responsibilities as a greyhound racing participant. In particular, the PSL is able to provide clarification, guidance or assistance on a range of topics or issues, including: ■ Current issues affecting greyhound racing such as
COVID-19 ■ Current GRV call to action campaigns such as updating greyhound locations in FastTrack ■ Greyhound Kennel or Facility Management &
Construction ■ Code of Practice ■ Information relating to greyhound Breeding, Whelping,
Rearing, Education or Training Activities ■ Planning & Council Permits ■ Racing rules and policies
How do I contact the Participant Support Line?
You can do so by phone or email. If the line is busy or you have called out of hours, please leave a message that includes your name, participant number and a brief outline of the reason for your call. Phone 1300 144 360 Email participants@grv.org.au
I’m not sure if the Participant Support Line can help me?
Don’t worry, if the team is not able to help, they will know the right GRV department that can.
I need answers urgently. How quick will you get back to me?
Most enquiries to the PSL can be resolved promptly, however please understand that some may take longer than expected due to complexity or if further information is required.
It can come out of the blue... 24 hour confidential phone support for psychological counselling, including financial coaching, introductory legal advice, nutrition wellbeing coaching and on-site counselling.
GPS
Greyhound Participant Support Program (GPS)
Participants in need of professional and confidential help with mental health issues, budgeting or debt management coaching, introductory legal advice or diet and nutrition advice for themselves or immediate family can call the independent Greyhound Participant Support Program on 1300 739 550. This program is free to participants and is provided by Assure Programs, who also offer 24 hr emergency psychological phone support. For more information, visit www.greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/ greyhound-participant-support/.
BREEDING TIPS
WITH BARRY SMITH Multiple Group 1 winning breeder and the man behind the famous ‘Mepunga’ bloodline
The series includes:
■ The basics of successful greyhound breeding ■ The cost of breeding greyhounds ■ Selecting a sire Breeding to sires with international bloodlines Broodmatrons and young pups Choosing a pup Interacting with pups Lead training and gamesmanship Housing and exercising pups
