Wheeler Duo Lead NZ St Leger Charge

CANTERBURY conditioner Craig Roberts has enjoyed a hugely successful association with Wheeler family bred, reared and owned greyhounds for many, many years.

He has trained numerous Black type winners for the Wheeler family that includes greyhounds that have Bale, Dyna and Allen in their racing names.

On Thursday evening at the Addington Raceway Roberts will be looking to further expand upon that success with Xabil Bale and Uthor Bale in the $30,000 Active Electrical Christchurch New Zealand St Leger at Group 1 level.

They are littermates who are members of the August 2017 whelped Dyna Double One – Samus Allen litter.

Interestingly, they display completely contrasting racing styles. 

Xabil Bale is generally sighted racing handy to the pace which was the tactic she used to dictate the pace throughout when she delivered her 30.23s 520m heat win. She did so from the one trap – she must do exactly that when he hops away from trap seven here.

On the other hand, Uthor Bale tends to be a tad slow from the traps, then he's sighted picking a racing line prior to unleashing his power packed finish. He closed in rapidly on the 30.21s pace setting heat winner Opawa Toddy when finishing a half length second.

"Xabil Bale is racing super – she has early pace so hopefully she will lead them out.

"She has smart sectionals and I'm not sure if even Uthor Bale could run her down if she sets the pace. She pulled up great," confirmed Roberts.

"I don't mind Uthor Bale being in the one trap. I thought he was going to run down Opawa Toddy, but he didn't quite make it although he ran a top race. He has run some massive races recently. It'll come down to the type of run he gets into and around the first turn. He's strong enough to run them all down."

It was the Dave and Jean prepared Opawa Toddy who returned the quickest of the three heat times when last month's Group 2 457m winner stopped the clock in 30.21s.

He hopped away smartly from the six trap to control the pace throughout and this promising chaser will have to apply those same tactics from that trap in the final.

"He hasn't drawn the best again. We were happy with his heat run – hopefully he can get a clean run into the first turn. He's come through his heat in good shape," confirmed Dave Fahey.

His kennelmate Go Vegas also dictated terms when he completed his heat assignment in 30.29s.

"We expect improvement from him in the final; he had missed some work going into his heat," Fahey advised.

"He has enough early pace to get handy going into the first turn and he should stay in contention if he does so. He's all set to go in the final."

Punters A Hero is the third Fahey trained finalist and he booked his final field position when he gamely chased home Xabil Bale in his heat. His claims got a tad tougher when he was allocated the five trap for the final.
"He surprised us a bit by qualifying, but in saying that he's in the field," Fahey explained.

"He's going to be relying on some early luck from that draw. He pulled up okay from his heat."