20-1: Counting Down The Wheeler Dynasty

ON October 13, 2021 greyhound racing lost Paul Wheeler – a man who forever redirected Australian bloodlines.

Wheeler spent his entire life engaged in the breeding and rearing of high quality racing stock and, ultimately, his trust in American and English imports paved a pathway for all.

For more than 30 years, Paul and Jan Wheeler took risks, experimented and, at times, failed.

Generational breeding programs take time, money and patience.

In the end, the Wheeler dynasty was in place but just how were they ranked?

For the first time, Jan Wheeler provides Greyhound Recorder readers an insight into how Paul and Jan rated their champions, for varying reasons.

20 Suellen Bale (Acacia Ablaze – Merrilee Bale)

Won 2001 Group 1 Paws Of Thunder, 2000 Geelong Cup,  2000 National Sprint Champion, 2000 New Year Trophy.

Winner of 53 races from 121 starts and $121,838.

Jan Wheeler: "She had high speed. She was so durable and raced continuously for nearly 2 ½ years, mostly against the best sprinters in Victoria and also campaigned interstate. She won just under half of her race starts and was in the first group of pups we sent to Graeme Bate. Paul and Graeme developed a lifelong, brother-like relationship. That makes her special to me."

19 Xylia Allen (Turanza Bale – Tayah Bale)

Won G1 Sapphire Crown; G1 Peter Mosman; G1 National Sprint, G1 Albion Park Gold Cup. Established eight track records.

83 starts, 40 wins and 25 placings, $743,430.

"At the time of Tayah Bale's mating, Turanza Bale was really a new sire but was on everyone lips when Xylia Allen won at Sandown at her third start in 29.32. She went on to be a champion stayer and performed at black type level very early on. Post racing, she had a significant back injury and was rehabilitated by Paul and they formed a very close bond. It was beautiful to see."

18 Cerin Bale (Acacia Ablaze – Kylie Bale)

Won G2 Geelong Cup

56 starts, 27 wins with 13 placings $61,815

"Cerin was another of the first group of dogs to go to Graeme Bate. She won nine of her first 10 starts, with her only defeat being first up at Wentworth Park from box eight at her sixth career outing. With Graeme, she was in the Topgun in 1998 (won by Rapid Journey) after winning the Geelong Cup a few weeks earlier. She was a member of Kylie Bale's fourth litter and the best pup she produced."

17 Jarick Bale (Allen Deed – Houston Bale)

Won G1 Sale Cup, G1 Rookie Rebel

Posted 31 wins from 79 starts with 24 placings and $433,870.

"After 13 starts, he'd won only once but was still learning to race and once Mark (Delbridge) stepped Jarick up over a little more ground, it was his time to shine. He has a great, never-say-die attitude. His grand dam (Sequoia) is an American bitch which won at Wheeling Downs before arriving here and then produced some excellent middle distance efforts at Sandown at The Meadows. We'd used a lot of American sires but Sequoia was the first imported brood bitch we'd bred with."

16 Dyna Lachlan (Go Wild Teddy – Benden Flex)

Won G1 Australian Cup, G1 Adelaide Cup

47 starts 26 wins, 11 placings $438,215

"Dyna Lachlan raced during a very tough time for us. (son) Brendan was breaking in and training from The Oaks while Paul and I lived here at Murringo in a shed as the property was being established – it took eight years to finish, not the 12 months Paul promised me! He raced successfully and all the money he won went back into the business. Barcia Bale started in the same way before heading to Graeme Bate. He was a Go Wild Teddy as was Barcia and their speed was what Paul was looking for."

15 Radley Bale (Big Daddy Cool – Minkara Bale)

Won G1 Golden Easter Egg, G1 Temlee

102 starts 37 wins, 27 placings $570,883

"Radley flew under the radar early on in people's view but we always knew he was special. He was red fawn and that set him apart from a lot of dogs we'd bred after Kylie Bale but before hand the World Acclaim line was predominately red fawn. He won only five of his first so many starts but finished winning a Golden Easter Egg in fast time and also won a Temlee. He was a great race dog and super competitive.”

14 Dyna Tron (Collision – Gold Rush Bale)

61 starts, 31 wins, 13 placings $519,753

Won 2011 G1 Melbourne Cup, G1 Hobart Thousand

“He won his Melbourne Cup on a night to savour. We had seven of the eight runners in the Cup and was staggered how they kept winning. He led from box seven that night and won pretty comfortably but we did not know where to look. While the Cup was at Sandown, he was just as good on a one-turn track and won his 13 races on 14 different tracks from Cannington to Hobart, to Wentworth Park and Albion Park."

13 Irma Bale (Bartrim Bale – Amelia Bale)

90 starts, 37 wins 31 placings $573,446

2012 and 2013 G1 Sandown Cups, G2 Summer Plate

“She's rising 13 but is going great and lives with our property manager Adam Harvey's mum at The Oaks, not far from our old property. She won a maiden final at her second start in fast time (Horsham in 27.12) and Paul always thought she'd make a stayer – and she did -as her dam Amelia Bale was a winner at Sandown over 715. Like Dyna Tron she travelled to all parts of the country and, being by Bartrim Bale, was special to us and she earned a comfortable retirement and that's what she got.”

12 Orson Allen (KC And All – Desalle Bale)

61 starts, 31 wins, 13 placings $620,300

Won G1 Perth Cup, G1 Harrison Dawson, G2 Cranbourne Cup, G2 Horsham Cup.

"Orson Allen showed from the time he was educated that he was special. His focus (as a youngster) was exceptional and his racing pattern was ‘get after it', he had high speed. Fernando won the Harrison Dawson a few years before he did and Paul was in Singapore for that win and he was especially delighted to be at Sandown for his win in 2019. He raced for only a little more than 15 months yet won 31 races and was in black type company from 20 months of age. He was very affectionate like Dyna Double One and they're always special."

11 Dyna Villa (Collision – Roxio Bale)

54 starts, 27 wins 18 placings $723,063

Won G1 Melbourne Cup, G1 Paws Of Thunder, G2 Queensland Derby.

"The Daillys later trained Fernando and Dyna Double One for us and Dyna Villa was to be the yardstick for their performances. We had good success with (his sire) Collision and Dyna Villa won eight of his first nine starts and finished with 27 wins at a 50 per cent strike rate. His times at all tracks were exceptional (The Meadows 29.67 and Wentworth Park 29.64, for example). Paul thought he'd make a good stud dog but other boys took the limelight … it's a pity he has not more opportunity but that's the breeding game."

10 Jay Bee Bale (Amerigo Man – Lady McBale)

Won 1994 Supercoat Classic at Dapto

"This is really tough! Jay Bee stands for Jan's Boy and, as a puppy, he used to leave his siblings and run to me every time I entered the yard. He was only lightly raced and was a very wide runner. In the Supercoat series, he was carrying a toe injury which we managed deal with in the heat and semi. Fortunately, he drew box eight in the final and scored by a really narrow margin over Worthy Reward, Golden Currency and Tap Dance. I was in tears and Paul had to go to the presentation without me. He might not have been the fastest by any means but he was my boy and that made him special."

9 Luana Bale (Grove Whisper – Red Fire Bale)

23 starts, eight wins and six placings.

Won 1992 Supercoat Classic at Dapto

"She won the $100,000 final at Dapto and later produced Hobart Thousand winner Mirren Bale. The win at Dapto was our third in the series and Paul promised the kids a trip to Disneyland if she won. Our youngest, Belinda, was only 10 at the time and she, despite her many medical issues, quickly let Paul know of his promise and we booked the trip (for all six of us) the next week. Luana was a determined railer and had good field sense, she tracked the pace to the home turn and finished it off really powerfully. Belinda was overjoyed."

8 Lansley Bale (Farloe Melody – Carmel Bale)

54 starts, 29 wins and 13 placings, $110,430

Won G2 Ballarat Cup, G2 Cranbourne Cup, Sandown Silver Bullet

"This bloke really changed our lives. Paul made the decision that greyhound racing could not be 24/7 – we would not cope with whelping, rearing, educating, training and travelling to tracks. We elected to get Graeme (Bate) to train Lansley even through he'd already proven himself here but did not have an affinity with Wentworth Park and that made the decision easier. Graeme rated him really highly and he broke a track record at Bendigo after finishing second to Roanokee in the Melbourne Cup in 1997. He's the grand sire of Miata, Dyna Tron, Peter Rocket and Princess Bale."

7 Kantarn Bale (Light Of Fire – Jindara Bale)

78 starts, 45 wins and 15 placings, $286,200

G1 Melbourne Cup, G1 Silver Chief, G1 Brisbane Cup

"What a dog! Graeme (Bate) just loved this bloke. Graeme was ridiculed for taking him to Angle Park for the Adelaide Cup as a first start maiden yet he finished second in the final to Great Wish and won the Melbourne Cup at only his eighth start. He'd not missed a place in 19 starts before finishing seventh in a Wangaratta Cup heat in June 2000 and finished his career with 45 wins from only 78 starts. He was in high demand at stud but, unfortunately was found to be infertile. Paul tried every possible fix for his reproductive issues but it was to no avail."

6 Billy Bale (Temlee – Emiline Bale)

"Billy went to America after a short stint here at stud here. So worried about him travelling such a long way, Paul got his first passport and travelled with him. He loved the dog and just wanted to make sure he got there safely. While away, Paul forged relationships with some really successful breeders in the USA and laid the groundwork of what would really change our breeding strategy."

5 Barcia Bale (Go Wild Teddy – Princess Bale)

14 starts, 13 wins and $136,075

2012 G1 Maturity

"Barcia broke the 400m track record at Bulli at his first start his only defeat was at Bulli in a Group 2 Gold Cup (in 2015). Winning the Maturity at The Meadows boosted his profile in Victoria and his early pups to race showed high speed with Dyna Double One being one of them. His racing career was cut short by injury yet breeders warmed to him and he's been a genuine superstar. We used him whenever we could and he was one of Paul's favourites from day one."

4 Kylie Bale (Rikasso Mick – Winifred Bale)

Won 1990 Supercoat Classic at Dapto

"This will surprise a lot of people but the Supercoat Classic win really saved us! We bought our first new car after Kylie won. She was by English sire Rikasso Mick and was one of our very early outcrosses, later producing Cerin Bale – herself a Geelong Cup winner and finished second in a Golden Easter Egg. A lot of people who are familiar with the Bale suffix won't know Kylie but, without her, everything else might not have fallen into place.”

3 Dyna Double One (Barcia Bale – Crystin Bale)

54 Starts, 31 wins and 15 placings $1,160,316

G1 Melbourne Cup, G1 Brisbane Cup, G1 Rookie Rebel, G1 Australian Cup

"Being in one of the first of our Barcia Bale litters, Dyna Double One was super important. He beat a really good field of maidens at his debut and his win in the Melbourne Cup (running Fernando Bale down) was a performance of a true champion. He was a really affectionate dog and that's always attracted me. Jay Bee Bale had been very luck like that many years before.”

2 Fanta Bale (David Bale – Ucme Typhoon)

63 starts, 42 wins and 14 placings $1.365m

G1 Australian Cup, G1 Hume Cup, G1 Rookie Rebel, G1 Sandown Cup, G1 Albion Park Gold Cup, G1 National Distance Championship, G1 Bold Trease, G1 Zoom Top, G1 Super Stayers

"She was just a marvel. Whatever Robert Britton set her for, she stepped up and delivered whether it was as a sprinter early on, over a middle distance or as a stayer. Her mum was brought here (from America) as an unraced youngster and Paul did a deal with Robert for some pups and he got them to train. Not many dogs win G1's over a sprint and then do the same over a middle distance and then as a stayer. She's a worthy second on the list."

1 Fernando Bale (Kelso's Fuselier – Chloe Allen)

44 starts for 35 wins and five placings, $1,299m

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmtcj6TKWpM

Won G1 Golden Easter Egg, G1 Maturity, G1 National Derby, G1 Harrison-Dawson, G1 Peter Mosman, G1 National Sprint, G1 Adelaide Cup, G1 Topgun

"What do you say? He was supreme as a race dog and, while hard to expect, an even better stud dog. Paul always considered good dogs have no flaws and Fernando never disappointed us from the time he was first kennelled, he was special. Even in defeat in the Melbourne Cup we were so proud and take joy at his sons and daughter's success."

Some notables just outside Jan Wheeler's Top 20 include Turanza Bale, Dyna Patty, Sarah Bale, Allen Deed, Amity Bale, Bartrim Bale, David Bale, Buttsie Bale and Brutess.

A lifetime of refinement delivered the Wheeler family success beyond Paul and Jan's wildest dreams but it was born of hard work, steely determination and riding the bumps which greyhound racing always delivers.

The Wheeler watermark is clearly defined, not just on these shores but worldwide.