Two home-grown Melbourne Cup triumphs – My Redeemer (2018) and Koblenz (2021) – highlight champion Lara trainer David Geall’s phenomenal record as a breeder.
That success has translated into the Sportsbet Pink Diamond during the first two series.
Koblenz won the Rookie Sprinter Final in 2021, while the recently-retired Ferdinand Boy ran third in the inaugural Champion Short Course before claiming the Champion Sprinter title last year.
“We’ve been fortunate to win a final with Koblenz the first year and then the big one with Ferdinand Boy last year,” Geall said.
“Fire Hose is well-drawn out there, but unfortunately, he’s copped Unleash Collinda.”
“I think the Pink Diamond concept has really gained momentum as people are understanding it better.
“Breeders and owners really need these series more than ever now because costs have just skyrocketed since COVID. The breeder bonuses are huge – we got an $11,000 bonus with Ferdinand Boy last year.”
While a career-ending back muscle injury has ruled Ferdinand Boy out of the Pink Diamond, Geall will take aim at back-to-back Champion Sprinter crowns with kennel newcomer Fire Hose.
A G2 Shepparton Cup finalist, Fire Hose has won three times and is yet to miss a place in seven appearances for Geall, most recently scoring in a Best Of Night 25.15sec at Warrnambool.
Fire Hose (box 8) faces a daunting rival in Thursday afternoon’s Champion Sprinter heat (race 8, 4.52pm) at Shepparton in Jason Thompson’s triple record holder Unleash Collinda (box 4).
WATCH: FIRE HOSE (B8) continued his excellent form for new trainer David Geall with a thrilling victory over FEARLESS RORY (B7) in a BON 25.15sec at Warrnambool last Thursday.
Fire Hose is Sportsbet’s $4.20 second elect, with Unleash Collinda $1.85.
“Fire Hose is a nice, fast dog,” Geall said.
“We’re very fortunate that Chris Tilley asked us to train Fire Hose and his brother Always A Thrill, which ran third in the Shepparton Cup.
“Fire Hose is well-drawn out there, but unfortunately, he’s copped Unleash Collinda. That makes it tough, but he’ll be up there, either leading or running second.
“Always A Thrill would’ve been in the Pink Diamond too, but he tore a muscle. We also lost Ferdinand Boy and Hill Top Jonnie due to injury, so we lost three good Pink Diamond chances in two weeks.”
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Geall also has $10 chance General Winston (box 6), winner of three of his past four, engaged in the Champion Short Course heat at Shepparton (race 7, 4.37pm).
“He’s another dog we got a few months ago,” Geall explained.
“He took a little while to come to hand, but he’s very, very quick early. He loves the fence so he’s not well-drawn, but he’s an explosive dog when he hits the ground.”
Then on Friday at Warragul, Geall will tackle the Maiden Sprinter semi-finals with blueblood Kinloch Kansas.
An October ’21 son of Kinloch Brae and Geall’s former superstar Up Hill Jill, a dual G1 winner and mother of Group winners Koblenz, Hill Top Jack, and Jungle Panther, among others, Kinloch Kansas ran second on debut in Sunday’s heats.
“At this stage, he’s just fair,” Geall said candidly.
“We’re thinking it might take a couple more months for the penny to drop. He’s still a bit green.
“He’s not going to be a Koblenz or a Jungle Panther.
“There’s eight in Up Hill Jill’s Kinloch Brae litter and I think seven of them can win. From ‘Jill’s’ first two litters, 14 of her 16 pups have won, so her strike rate is very good.”
Ferdinand Boy won’t be contesting a third Pink Diamond series, with Geall confirming the country cups ‘King’s’ retirement this week.
A son of Fernando Bale and Nayla Swift, bred by Geall and wife Rose, Ferdinand Boy won 52 of his 106 starts, highlighted by G2 Cup victories at Shepparton, Ballarat, and Healesville in 2021 and Warrnambool in 2022.
“We will never get another dog like him,” Geall said.
“If we’re lucky we might win another country cup, but not four.
“He also won the Warrnambool Derby, Shepparton Classic, the Horizon at Sale and the Sale Sprint Championship.
“I did public trial him at Sandown and he ran 29.53sec, with splits of 4.96sec and 18.53sec. But I believe we made the right decision keeping him to one-bend. He probably could’ve won eight city races, but he earned $580,000 on provincial tracks, so I don’t have any regrets.”
