The late Paul Wheeler won Peter Mosman Classics with Xylia Allen and Fernando Bale, two of the sport's all-time greats, and on Saturday night his son Brendan is hoping to emulate his father in Saturday week's final through having a starter in each of the three Mosman heats at Wentworth Park.
Xylia Allen, a bitch, won the Peter Mosman Classic in race record time of 29.47 in 2013 while Fernando Bale, a dog, lowered those figures to 29.27 two years later.
From 2019 the Peter Mosman was retitled the Peter Mosman Opal, and was restricted to bitches, while the Vic Peters Classic, formerly open to both sexes, became reserved for male greyhounds.
Brendan Wheeler owns Yahiro Bale, who has box one in heat one, McKeon Bale (box six, heat two) and Kelsey Bale, who has drawn box five in heat three.
"It is always nice to win a big race but if I was fortunate enough to win Saturday week's final, considering dad won it with two such marvelous greyhounds, it would make it extra special,'' Wheeler said.
Brendan Wheeler's trio are trained by Daniel Gibbons, who rates Yuhiro Bale as his best chance.
"She had a bad injury early in her career which is why she has been a bit behind her kennelmates but she has made up for it recently and has won seven of her 10 races,'' Gibbons said.
"Yuhiro Bale has not trialled at Wentworth Park but I'm happy seeing her on the rails because she runs in a straight line and I always prefers box one no matter what greyhound I'm starting.
"McKeon Bale (pictured) and Kelsey Bale have the advantage of having previously raced at Wentworth Park but McKeon Bale has drawn poorly in box six.
"Kelsey Bale was the best of the trio early in her career but more recently her box manners have become a bit up and down.''
Fellow Victorian trainer Daniel Pell has litter brothers Flight Risk in box one and Red Reactor (box two) in heats one and three of Saturday night's Ladbrokes Vic Peters Classic and has their sister Love The City in box four in heat three of the Ladbrokes Peter Mosman Opal.
"They haven't seen Wentworth Park so are going in blind but they all have ability,'' Pell said.
"Love The City is the quickest and she can run smart first splits of between 5.05 and 5.07 at The Meadows.
"Her only problem is she is so tiny, just 23.5kg and she has drawn box four.
"Flight Risk has won five from 15 but would probably be better suited from a wide draw.
"He will want to move up the track a bit in the run to the first turn and would have been better in box three or four.
"Because little Love The City has drawn awkwardly, my best prospect would have to be Red Reactor.
"He is well drawn in box two and not only will he rail like a demon, he is very strong at the finish.''
Red Reactor is opposed to Zipping Novak, arguably the leading NSW contender for the Ladbrokes Vic Peters series, but that dog, trained by Jason Magri has come up with a horror draw.
Not only has he drawn box eight, but is parked outside What About That, a winner of five Wentworth Park races, in box seven and who is a wide runner with abundant early speed.
Integrity Mate, winner of the inaugural The Thunderbolt at Grafton, has box three in this heat.
"I had intended taking him to Albion Park for Thursday night's Brisbane Cup heats but I took ill and was unable to drive to Albion Park to trial him so opted for the Vic Peters heats instead,'' trainer Robert Andrews said.
"Integrity Mate has not seen Wentworth Park and is tackling 520m for the first time but I expect him to run a big race,'' Andrews said.
"He could get a bit tired towards the end of this race but hopefully he can qualify for Saturday week's final because he will be a stronger dog next week.''
