Anakie husband-and-wife team Correy and Samantha Grenfell are no strangers to big-race success.
Former star Orson Allen – who put them on the ‘map’ in the sport – and ‘ultimate professional’ Tiggerlong Tonk, an 11-time G1 finalist, are two cases in point.
But the Grenfells can’t recall ever having four runners in a final.
However, they will line up with a ‘fab four’ in the $25,000 to-the-winner Ladbrokes Graeme Hull Memorial (525m) at Wagga on Friday night.
Last week, they won heats with Usman Bale (30.14sec, Best) and Xavien Bale (30.16sec) and finished second with Yozo Bale and Knicks Bale.
In fact, Victoria has six finalists in the event as the Daniel Gibbons-trained Ulricken Bale (30.22sec), at $5, and Jeff Gorgioski-prepared Cha Cha Charlie (30.27sec), at $6, also won heats.
Contesting Heat 4, Usman Bale ($19) caused a boilover, powering to a 5.25L victory over ‘country cups king’ and kennelmate Yozo Bale ($1.50F). Usman Bale notched his fifth win from 13 starts – including three of his past four.
Meanwhile, Xavien Bale ($10) – a litter brother of Usman Bale – narrowly snared Heat 2 in registering his fourth win from 13 starts. Both siblings are only 21 months old and look to have promising futures.
And Knicks Bale ($71) went to down to Cha Cha Charlie by 1.5L in Heat 1. She has won six races from 44 starts.
WATCH: Usman Bale (6) says catch-me-if-you-can to kennelmate Yozo Bale (1) in a Graeme Hull Memorial heat at Wagga last week. Click here.
Correy Grenfell says Yozo Bale (Box 8) is the “one to beat” from the quartet.
“He really felt his way and never really ‘got on his feet’ last week. I’m expecting significant improvement from him in the final.”
Grenfell is also buoyant on the chances of Yozo Bale’s heat conqueror, Usman Bale (Box 5).
“He’s a high-speed dog but inconsistent beginner. I’ve got huge wraps on him; he was five lengths quicker than Orson Allen in pre-training. It’s taking him a little while to learn but once he works it out, he’ll be a real good dog.”
As for Xavien Bale (Box 4), Grenfell said: “He’s a speed dog but is only a baby. He came through pre-training very well and his best is yet to come.”
And on Knicks Bale (Box 1), he added: “She’s very fast but hadn’t put it together for some time. But the heat effort was her most improved run for a while. She has six-monthly seasons, so it’s hard to get a full campaign into her. But she’s a run-on type; she’ll stick to the rails and will need a little luck in the run.”
Usman Bale – one of four finalists for ‘Team Grenfell’ – following his 30.14sec (Best) Graeme Hull Memorial heat win at Wagga last Friday night
