CHAMPION Victorian-trained sprinter Radley Bale showed why he is rated in the top two greyhounds in the country with a brilliant all-the-way win in last night's Tasracing Launceston Cup at Mowbray.
emThe $40,000 first prizemoney took Radley Bale's career earnings to almost $500,000.
He will get several chances to surpass that magical figure in the next two months before being retired to stud.
Radley Bale, the $1.70 favourite, jumped straight to the front from box 3 and never looked in any danger.
He scored by more than four lengths from locally-trained runners Lika Whisper and Classic Camdale.
Radley Bale is prepared by Victorian Hall Of Fame trainer Graeme Bate, who also won the race in 2006 with Wongawillicath.
Bate was unable to attend the meeting as he goes into hospital today for a knee replacement.
His travelling foreman Rob Camilleri said that Radley Bale would be in action again on Saturday night when he will start from box 2 in the group 1 The Temlee at The Meadows in Melbourne.
``He's then got the heats of the Australian Cup and, if he's still going well, he'll try to win his second successive Golden Easter Egg in Sydney,'' Camilleri said.
``That will be the end of his career. He's four now and has been a great dog; a great old warhorse.''
Bate said last week that New South Wales owner Paul Wheeler had already been approached by two top studs keen to secure Radley Bale's services.
``Paul has been talking about retiring him for a while so it's getting close,'' Bate said.
``I'll be disappointed to see him go.
``He's been a top dog for a long period and, if he'd had a bit more luck, he would have won a lot more money than he has.
``He's been narrowly beaten in a lot of group races.''
Radley Bale's time of 29.60 was considerably quicker than his heat (29.91) but that didn't surprise Bate.
``He was having his first start at the track in his heat and he was stargazing a bit,'' the trainer said.
``I thought he had a bit up his sleeve.''
Bate said that he expected Radley Bale to win ``if he lobbed on the lure''.
Lika Whisper chased Radley Bale all the way and was gallant in defeat.
He is prepared by former harness trainer Brendan Pursell at Brighton.
Pursell chose the right time to swap codes, as first prizemoney for the Launceston Cup was the same as the total prizemoney for harness racing's premier event, the Tasmania Cup.
Third placegetter Classic Camdale is prepared at Exeter by leading trainer Anthony Bullock, who said it was no disgrace to be beaten by Radley Bale.
``He has probably been the best dog in Australia over the past 12 months,'' Bullock said.
As expected, odds-on favourite Rewind was an easy winner of the Launceston Cup Consolation.
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