Caption: Paddy Wants Pats, with Ballarat GRC general manager Jodie Faralla and Bronte Bravo, after winning last year’s Western Districts Derby (450m).
IT’S a race that has helped launch some wonderful careers over the years, none better than the mighty Fernando Bale.
We’re talking about the Listed Western District Derby (450m), one of Ballarat’s major features after the club’s flagship event – the Group 2 $47,000-to-the-winner Ballarat Cup.
The Derby final, carrying a total prizemoney of $28,500, will be staged at the club’s Morshead Park complex on February 3
The Graeme Bate-trained Stanford Bale won the first Derby in 2011, while Fernando Bale, the super-star stud dog and first greyhound to win $1million in prizemoney, was successful in the series in 2015.
His two victories at Ballarat (heat and final) were part of a remarkable streak of 21 wins from 22 starts in the first half of ’15.
And the amazing sprinter would retire from the track later that year with the remarkable stats of 35 wins, including 10 Group victories (seven G1s), and five placings from 44 starts and prizemoney just under $1.3 million.
Other stars that have been successful in the Western District Derby include the outstanding sprinter Tiggerlong Tonk (94: 42-24-11; $766,440), winner in 2020; Hecton Bale (2018), a seven-time Group finalist and winner of $476,998; Group winners Shima Bar (2017) and Flynn (2019) and last year’s victor the Kelly Bravo-trained five-time Group finalist Paddy Wants Pats.
Club official Marg Long said the Derby has had a distinguished history.
“It’s a race that attracts some of the best young sprinters in Victoria as well as interstate,” she said.
“And we’re hoping runners from the recent National Derby series in Sydney will nominate.
Ms Long said the Derby had become one of Victoria’s premier age-restricted events.
It’s growing status is highlighted by the fact that in recent years several Melbourne Cup winners have come through the series.
And in 2021, Music Event won the final, beating Group performers Aston Rupee, Aussie Secret and Ferdinand Boy.
“It’s proving to be a race that can help catapult dogs to bigger and better things,” said one club official.
The Kelly Bravo-owned-and-trained Paddy Wants Pats, last year’s winner, was runner-up to Lara Kiwi in the Group 1 Australian Cup a few weeks later before qualifying for another two Group finals later in the year.
After ‘Paddy’s’ Derby victory, in which he defeated G1 Silver Chief runner-up Compliance and the talented sprinter Decimate, Bravo said: “I was stoked… I wasn’t sure how he’d go out wide (box 8). But I was happy where he positioned early, and it was nice to see him get up.”
Currently Paddy Wants Pats’ career earnings stand at $290,750 from 19 wins and 11 placings (52 starts).
Winning connections of this month’s Western District Derby final (February 3) will take home $20,000.
