Fifty for Ferdinand Boy!

Provincial superstar Ferdinand Boy reached an incredible milestone at Sale on Sunday night when celebrating his 50^th career victory in the heats of The Horizon (440m).

The defending The Horizon champion hit the half-century at his 86^th start, his wins coming at an amazing 58 per cent strike rate, considering he’s spent the majority of his career in elite company, earning the mantle of country cups ‘king’ along the way.

And the son of super sire Fernando Bale achieved the feat in style, extending his winning streak to ten straight and boosting his unbeaten record at Sale to eight from eight with a runaway Best Of Night performance.

WATCH: FERDINAND BOY (B6) reached a remarkable 50-win milestone in brilliant fashion at Sale on Sunday, careering away with his heat of The Horizon (440m) in a scorching Best Of Night 24.52sec.

Sent out $1.20 favourite from Box 6 in the last of three heats of the $25,000 to-the-winner Horizon, Ferdinand Boy defeated game youngster Nicolson Bale by 3.6L in 24.52sec, eclipsing his previous Sale personal best of 24.56sec.

“His 50^th win and ten in a row as well. He’s just a marvellous dog,” said a proud trainer David Geall, who also bred and races Ferdinand Boy with wife Rose.

“He’s done it in very good company too.

“You’re spoiled with a dog like him. He just loves to race and never puts in a bad one that leaves you scratching your head. You know what you’re going to get every time you take him to the track.

“He’s earned close to $570,000 now, with bonuses, without winning in the city. But I don’t have any regrets at all about not pursuing 500m racing with him because I think it would’ve proved detrimental to his career.”

“He’s a marvellous dog. You know what you’re going to get every time you take him to the track.”

After winning the inaugural The Horizon in 2021, Ferdinand Bale will attempt to defend his crown from Box 3 in Sunday night’s final, with Geall expressing some concern about the draw.

“I was very happy with his run on Sunday,” said Geall.

“It was a real good run. He missed it about a half and got a bit of a check, but he balanced himself up so quickly. He’s got a unique turn of foot after 20 metres.

“He’s really taken a liking to Sale. I’d love to see him jump fast – which he can do and he’s going to need to do from Box 3.

“‘The red’ (Black Avenger) is well-drawn and ‘the two’ (Perfect Colour) likes to get off the track, so there could be a bit of hustle and bustle early on.

“But I remember him having Box 5 in the heat and final of the Healesville Cup and he made light work of it in the final, so a bad box doesn’t put him out of it.”

Sunday’s Sale meeting will also feature the $10,000 to-the-winner Winter Classic final (440m), with He’s No Slouch, trained by Peter Craig, the quickest of the five heat winners, clocking 24.62sec.

Proud trainer David Geall savours superstar Ferdinand Boy’s 50th win.