Seeing Red: Hecton's Perth Cup Hopes Heightened

WHEN 2018 Australian Cup hero Hecton Bale transferred to the kennels of Enzo and Graham Crudeli last November, this year’s Group 1 Sky Racing Perth Cup (520m) was immediately put on the radar.

WHEN 2018 Australian Cup hero Hecton Bale transferred to the kennels of Enzo and Graham Crudeli last November, this year's Group 1 Sky Racing Perth Cup (520m) was immediately put on the radar.

"We were looking to buy 10 dogs from Paul Wheeler and initially Hecton Bale wasn't part of the discussion, Paul came back to us with a list of dogs for sale and Hecton Bale was on there so we jumped at the chance of getting a dog of his ability to race in WA," said Graham Crudeli on Tuesday.

"Hecton Bale split his webbing at his last Victorian start in the heats of the Melbourne Cup so we had to bring him along slowly when he got here. He had about six weeks off but was going well so we headed over to The Meadows for the Australian Cup, which he won last year, after a few Cannington starts.

"His run was good in the heats after finding trouble and he really hadn't been racing with a lot of luck but on Saturday he got the start right and when Hecton Bale is on the arm you won't be running him down."

An eye-catching third in WA's flagship event last year for former trainer Andrea Dailly – finishing on the tails of Trouper Monelli and Up Hill Jill in the $150,000 to-the-winner decider – Hecton Bale stormed into Perth Cup calculations on Saturday night with a stirring 29.75 heat success, the son of Fernando Bale's chances only heightened at Monday night's box draw, coming up with the coveted rails alley.

"My brother Damien did the box draw on Monday – I wasn't there – he's done a pretty good job getting box one, I definitely owe him a beer, and if he wins on Saturday night, it will be a carton I'd say," joked Crudeli.

"But seriously, the way the box draw has played out has thrown the race open and brought him right into it, he's gone from being a 10/1 chance to a 5/1 chance I'd say – it should be a very good betting race, there's a lot of chances.

"He ran 29.75 leading all-the-way in his heat on Saturday and West On Augie did the same thing and went about half-a-length quicker – the track definitely wasn't as quick as it was earlier in the night when Orson Allen went 29.32 but he's definitely the dog to beat even from box seven – had he drawn inside he'd have been a very short priced favourite for sure."

With Hecton Bale boasting times like 29.54 at Wentworth Park, 29.53 at The Meadows and 29.29 at Sandown Park, Crudeli told the Recorder that Kiss Me Linda being drawn to Hecton Bale's  immediate outside could well prove the decisive factor.

"Box one really brings him into the race – I'd say he can run around the 29.50 mark and in big finals they usually don't run scorching times. Kiss Me Linda has a lot of speed and she's drawn box two, if she leads and holds out the outside runners then my bloke should get a great run and I'm confident he can run her down. He just can't afford to miss it away and get pushed back on the fence."

Watch Hecton Bale's 29.75 Perth Cup heat win

Winner at 19 of his 58 starts, the son of Fernando Bale and Searle Bale banking $420,000, Saturday night's Perth Cup Final will be the sixth time the September 2015 whelp has stepped out at Group 1 level, his crowning glory in the 2018 Australian Cup Final at The Meadows, defeating fellow Perth Cup finalist Hasten Slowly in a flying 29.53.

"While he was out earlier in the year we got a few straws taken and he's actually got a litter on the ground to Petunia Monelli who holds the track record over the 600m at Cannington," added Crudeli.

"We've had some interest and he's got a fair bit going for him at stud, being a group 1 winner by Fernando Bale, hopefully he's got even more going for him after Saturday night!"

Watch Equanimity's 2017 Perth Cup victory

In an uncanny turn of events, the Crudelis will line-up the rails runner for both the Perth Cup and Galaxy Final on Saturday night, with progressive stayer Bee Dee tackling the mighty Tornado Tears in the $100,000 to-the-winner staying event.

Back in 2017, the Crudelis ventured to Cannington on Perth Cup night with the exact same set of circumstances, Equanimity winning the Perth Cup from box one, while Walt Bale finished down the track to Bogie Bekim in the Galaxy.

"You almost wouldn't believe it would you, box one in both finals again!" added Crudeli.

"It's a very hard race to win the Perth Cup, you only need to look at Chris (Halse) and Linda (Britton) – they've dominated the training ranks in WA forever but haven't won the Cup for a long time (Bliss Bale – 1999). It feels like just yesterday Equanimity won the cup – he was a terrific dog for us – we actually got three into the final that year."

While Crudeli heads into Saturday night's Perth Cup with an air of optimism about Hecton Bale's prospects, the Nambeelup conditioner concedes Bee Dee's task in the Group 1 Galaxy is bordering on an impossible one, taking on champion galloper Tornado Tears, obliterating the track record in his heat, running a sizzling 41.25 to score by 18-lengths.

"We're all racing for second behind Tornado Tears in the Galaxy but it is a greyhound race and strange things can happen," pointed out Crudeli.

"I suggested to the stewards on Saturday night they should consider making Tornado Tears come out of the 380m boxes for the final to make it a fair fight. I'm not even sure that would do it!

"Running second to him would be a big thing in itself and it is $30,000 for the runner-up.

"He's a mighty chaser Tornado Tears and I'm sure he will drag a lot of people through the gates on Saturday."

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