Finn's Richmond Riches Domination

JOHN Finn's sensational Fernando Bale – Chica Destacada litter dominated last Friday night's heats of the Listed Ladbrokes Richmond Riches and they appear set to repeat the dose in Friday's semi-finals.

Veteran Cranebrook mentor Finn had four members of the high-flying litter engaged in the six Richmond Riches heats and he claimed a treble courtesy of Group 2 Queensland Derby hero Two Times Twice (30.44), Veloce Nero (30.62) and Poco Dorado (31.09).
The fourth sibling, Blue Moon Rising, was runner-up to second fastest qualifier Ritza Millie, which has since been ruled ineligible for the series.
Owner/breeders Denis Donoghue and Peter McDermott – the Dee and Pee Syndicate – enjoyed a dream ride on the track with 2014 National Sprint Champion Chica Destacada which has continued with her first visit to the breeding barn.
"We always thought that being by Fernando Bale out of Chica Destacada they would be able to run a bit," Peter McDermott said.
"They're just going fantastic. Way beyond our expectations.
"We bought Chica Destacada as a pup and she was unbelievable – Greyhound of the Year, won the National Sprint, second in a Melbourne Cup and 24 wins, including 17 at Wentworth Park.
"She retired just before she turned four and Fernando Bale finished racing himself not long after, even though they never raced against each other. He was unproven but he was the dog we wanted to go to.
"There's some red-hot Fernando Bale litters around but I think it's fair to say that the Chica Destacada litter is one of them.
"We intended to put the pups through the Richmond Auction but when the greyhound racing ban was announced the auction didn't go ahead.
Who knows what might have happened if they'd gone through the auction? We did advertise them for $15,000 but because of the ban and all the uncertainty we didn't sell them. We were happy to keep them!
"Since then Chica Destacada has had a second litter to Barcia Bale. There were nine in the litter and they're going on 11 months. They're lovely types."
The blue-blooded quartet all boast impressive Richmond records heading into Friday's four semi-finals of the $40,000 to-the-winner Riches.
Poco Dorado has won five from 11 at the Londonderry circuit, including the lucrative Globe Memorial Maiden last November, best of night heat winner Two Times Twice four from eight, Veloce Nero three from six, and Blue Moon Rising two from ten.
Blue Moon Rising and Veloce Nero have both drawn box three in the opening two semis, with Poco Dorado to exit the rails alley in the third semi and Two Times Twice allocated box two in the fourth and final qualifier.
"We're a bit worried about Poco Dorado's draw. She's not a box one dog and we definitely wanted her to draw wide," McDermott explained.
"For some reason she wants to shift out on the first turn at Richmond but the other three are all boxed fine, although moving from heat to semis the quality will go up this week.
"It's very contentious to say which one is the best.
"John (Finn) is pretty adamant Poco Dorado and Veloce Nero will step up in distance, although you never know until you try them over 700. Two Times Twice just keeps improving all the time. His 30.44 heat win was an enormous run. Blue Moon Rising was the slow developer of the four but he's starting to hit his straps.
"Every time John has asked them to step up they've met our expectations. We had two finalists in the National Derby, two in the National Futurity, two in the Queensland Derby and two in the Queensland Futurity.
"Hopefully we can get at least one into the Riches Final but we're not even thinking about all four getting through!"

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