Avenger Bale boldly stepped up to the mark to join his two litter brothers when he also became a Group 1 winner. It was a strong pace making performance that the Craig Roberts trained stayer produced when he scampered away to nail his victory in the $27,465 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Stayers’ Cup over the 732m distance at the Addington Raceway on Friday evening.

Pictured: Avenger Bale delivering his pace making victory in Friday’s Christchurch Casino New Zealand Stayers’ Cup (pic Dave Robbie)

Avenger Bale has always been a talented greyhound, after all he started as the race favourite for November’s $100,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup. More recently he was stepped up by his trainer to staying assignments

Avenger Bale’s trainer had said prerace that his charge must be in the race lead with a lap of the Addington track to run. A bold start by him saw him securing the race lead although it was looking rather ominous for him when the Ray Adcock prepared race favourite Ring The Bell positioned himself up handy to the early pace from trap six and then he nabbed his favoured rails racing possie.

There had been an early sensation when the second favourite Dusty Gambler stumbled when exiting from the eight trap, then the Karen Walsh trained stayer copped a decent check when heading into the first turn. Meanwhile up front it was Avenger Bale who was thriving in his pace making role. Ring The Bell was chasing him when passing the starting traps to enter the back straight again however the alarm bells began to ring for him when firstly Translator passed him down the back straight, quickly followed by her Dave and Jean Fahey trained kennel mate Opawa Tab.

Avenger Bale was never coming back to his rivals as he boldly stuck to his task which ultimately saw him being rewarded when he tasted success 43.30 seconds after the 732m traps had lifted. It was a comfortable victory by him as seen by his 2.25 length winning margin.

Translator finally received a decent draw in a feature race and she was real gallant when she kept up her strong gallop throughout to claim second for her owing Lin Barry Wee Man syndicate. Her breeder Mark Lin was rewarded with the $1,000 Breeders’ bonus for breeding Translator as this daughter of Bekim Bale and Delusionist was the first of the Kiwi bred stayers to finish in the Group 1 race.

Opawa Tab looks to have a promising future as a genuine stayer in front of her. She stylishly handled the task set for her in first assignments over the extreme racing distances in this series. The daughter of Fabregas and Token Kay kicked on relentlessly for her third a further 4.5 lengths behind, while also fending off the strong late challenge lodged by the luckless Dusty Gambler after the early race issues he suffered from. He rocketed home late for his fourth placing, missing the podium by the barest possible margin. Ring The Bell was the next to arrive and he’ll enjoy a thoroughly deserved retirement from now on.

Craig Roberts with his Christchurch Casino New Zealand Stayers’ Cup winner Avenger Bale; second place getter Translator with Mark Lin and his mate Johnno; Anthony Tregurtha brought back the third placed Opawa Tab

“I was very happy when I saw Avenger bounce in front, then when I saw Ring The Bell looming up to him so early, I thought surely this isn’t going to happen (go on past). Then at the post the first time around to run Avenger really gassed it and he put a hole against them (rivals) when he went clear by putting in a quick, strong sectional down to the back mark,” said Roberts.

“It was when he turned in for the run home when I realized nothing was going to catch him. When he hit the line I was bloody rapt for him, thinking now he’s got his Group 1 race win like his brothers has. He isn’t a dog who is full of confidence, although he’s happy go lucky dog with a lovely attitude.

“Looking back now at his earlier races over here he wasn’t mentally tough enough to take on the older dogs like when he was the New Zealand Cup favourite. He has now developed into a fantastic race dog,” advised Roberts, who added when ask about his immediate plans for Avenger Bale, he responded with, “He can have a crack at the Amazing Chase series, then further down the track I may look at some of the big Australian 700m plus staying races. I also have to thank the help and support I get at home from Ange (Washington), Dan (son), Leah (Ange’s daughter) and Bobby (Blackburn).”

Avenger Bale is a member of the exceptionally talented Fernando Bale – Langi Bale litter. Included in the litter is the Auckland Cup winner Dirk Bale, while the now retired Allen Ablett currently holds the Spion Rose Cup and the Hatrick Classic titles. Avenger Bale has now been to the races on 39 occasions, winning 18 of them. A further nine minor placings sees his current stakes tally sitting at a rather tidy $71,942 for his owner Jan Wheeler.

     

Avenger Bale (left) is now a Group 1 winning greyhound, just like his brothers Dirk Bale, seen here after his Auckland Cup victory and Allen Ablett after he won the Spion Rose Cup

By Peter Fenemor