The Bale Sire Influence And What It Means For Breeding

FROM January 1 this year to February 15, Meticulous Lodge sires Fernando Bale and Barcia Bale have accounted for prizemoney earnings around the country from their progeny of $4.2 million and $2.1 million respectively.

In 2020, stats show that Fernando Bale's progeny earned a staggering $23.5 million, while Barcia Bale's offspring took home $17 million.

Already, we are seeing so many Group performers and city winners with a combination of that famous pair, generally with Fernando Bale over a daughter of Barcia Bale.

The list is vast and will only continue to grow as their influence increases.

While it is far too early to get any trend at all of the daughters of Fernando Bale and what lines they are likely to “nick” best with, there is no doubt Barcia Bale or his many sons now at stud will be a perfect, and most used, option.

Over in Ireland, Fernando Bale's Aussie-bred daughter Ravenna (Fernando Bale-Sweet Shadow) from the famous National Lass family, is already the mother of Group 1 Irish St Leger winner Epic Hero and his Group 1 finalist litter brother Dualla Prince (by Droopys Jet).

Already sons of Fernando Bale are at stud, with the first pups by some getting to the racetrack and showing plenty of ability.

These sons include Whiskey Riot, Sennachie, My Redeemer, Blue Moon Rising, Hecton Bale, Hasten Slowly, West On Augie, Rippin' Sam, Deliver, Out Of Range, Fernando Blaster and Fully Loaded.

Barcia Bale's sons at stud include successful Dyna Double One, Aston Dee Bee and Mepunga Blazer, while Simon Told Helen, Hooked On Scotch, Bago Bye Bye, Raw Ability, Fast Times, Ritza Lenny, Beast Unleashed and Shima Bar etc. are at stud and showing great potential already.

Aston Dee Bee is already up to third on the Australasian sires list this year with earnings of $724,000.

In 2020, Fernando Bale's progeny started 40,000 times.

Barcia Bale's ran 41,700 times. The next closest was My Bro Fabio with 17,000 starts for $6.4 million.

So, where will all this domination by two sires, both bred by the mercurial Paul Wheeler, ultimately leave the greyhound breeding industry?

Way back in the late 1960s, such domination of greyhound breeding was highlighted by Black Top (Top Linen-Classy Jane). The almost unbeatable speedster got greats like Zoom Top and everyone wanted one just like her.

This prompted those in charge of such things to instantly bring in breeding rule changes.

Black Top is generally regarded as the stud dog whose domination forced the 14-matings per month rule.

Cries of “Black Top has ruined the breed” by saturating the bloodlines of the time were unfounded … just like they always are.

His daughters soon met up with stud dogs like Pied Rebel, Benjamin John, Newmore King, Chariot Charm, Old Berry Hermes, Takiri, Roman Earl, Mister Moss, Venetian Court, Pacermatic and then the new kid on the block Temlee to provide new blood.

Temlee (Tivoli Chief-Temora Lee) soon took over and with champs like Satan's Legend, Tangaloa, Winston Lass, Riviera Tiger, Winfred Bale, World Acclaim, Tempix, Drop Of Wine, Monica's Mist, Promises Free, Billy Bale etc, the same topic was started with him.

Such domination would end in the ruination of the bloodlines of Australian greyhounds.

Temlee's daughters had such sires as Eaglehawk Star, Royal Rumpus, Subtle Sense, Waverly Supreme, Chariot Supreme, Rapid Supreme, Bowetzel, Ballarat Prince, Pretty Short, Brother Fox, Acclaim Star, Glider's Son to accommodate and put an end to any such “bloodline ruination” talk.

Fast forward to the late 1990s and exactly the same was being said of Head Honcho.

Five-time leading stud dog in Victoria, by the time his daughters went to stud, they had such sires as Brett Lee, Primo Uno, Token Prince, Big Ginger Boy, History Lesson, Collision, Awesome Assassin, Placard, Malawi's Prince, Black Shiraz all waiting for them.

Barcia Bale's daughters are already proving hugely successful at stud and why wouldn't they. The same will happen with Fernando Bale of course.

Look at the stud dogs the daughters of Barcia Bale are working best with. 

They include Aussie Infrared, Zambora Brockie, Magic Sprite, Black Magic Opal, SH Avatar, Cosmic Rumble, and of course Fernando Bale.

Yes, Fernando Bale and Barcia Bale are dominant.

Their daughters will be dominant as well.

But with the likes of Aussie Infrared, Zambora Brockie, Magic Sprite and many, many more to come, they have found a niche to produce great race dogs.

Of course, an outcross influence is always admirable for such great stud dogs.

In recent times, the success of Hard Style Rico (by Bella Infrared) winning the Melbourne Cup, and Handsome Prince (by SH Avatar) winning the Million Dollar Chase, has highlighted once again the occasional need for such hybrid vigor.

Few of the best progeny of Fernando Bale have an added overseas influence, he being a son of US sire Kelsos Fusileer, but Barcia Bale in particular does well when linked up with outcross lines which will make the likes of Hard Style Rico and Handsome Prince all the more popular.

Domination, or as some would like to think “the ruination of the bloodlines”, just does not happen.

Broodbitch owners are not stupid. They know when they are on a good thing, but are just as sensible that when it is time to look elsewhere, that's what they will do.

It doesn't need any knee-jerk reaction from governing bodies, most of who know little or nothing about bloodlines of the greyhound, to try to halt what is currently an awesome period for two really great sires.

Let's just sit back and enjoy it.

Anyway, who can find Black Top in a pedigree today without going back many, many, many generations.