Ferdinand Boy Chalks Up Half Century In Horizon

FERDINAND Boy, the undisputed king of the country circuit, won for the 50^th time when taking out a heat of The Horizon at Sale on Sunday evening.

The win, his 10^th consecutive victory, came in trademark fashion.

Beginning with the field, he quickly accelerated to lead through the first turn and from there was never threatened, winning his heat of The Horizon by 3½ lengths in 24.54.

His winning time was a personal best for the son of Fernando Bale and over three lengths faster than what he ran when winning a heat of the same series over 12 months ago.

"What more can I say about the dog?" said delighted trainer David Geall.

? MUST WATCH FROM SUNDAY

FERDINAND BOY (6) has won for the 50th time in his sensational 86-start career in the third heat of #TheHorizon (440m) at Sale in a scorching 24.520 seconds for trainer David Geall.

Result ? https://t.co/duKfWsvRgH#GreyhoundRacing @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/RSubctI3PL

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) July 3, 2022

"You just think maybe he's run is going to come to an end and then he goes and does that. He actually missed it about three quarters, bumped off the black (Golden Skyrocket) and lost a bit of balance, and still went 5.19 which I've found over the years is a very, very fast first split.

"He just wants to lead no matter what happens to him. He's got to lead them, got to get to the front, he's just an extraordinary dog. I tell, ya, I'm just so rapt with him."

Ferdinand Boy is the 15^th greyhound in Australia to win 50 races over the past decade, but no others can boast a CV as impressive as his.

As well as his four country cups, Ferdinand Boy has also won a Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter, the 2021 The Horizon, a Shepparton Classic and several other provincial features. Including bonuses, he's now won over $560,000 in prize money, a remarkable figure for a greyhound that has had just one start on a two turn track.

He's won at all Victoria provincial tracks except Cranbourne and Warragul, and notably ahead of next week's final, is undefeated in eight starts at Sale.

Geall believes his dominance of the East Gippsland circuit may come down to the atmosphere that comes with a big crowd trackside.

"There's a big crowd here on Sundays, a real buzz," he said.

? BOX DRAW ?

? #TheHorizon Final
? Sale
? July 10

1️⃣ BLACK AVENGER
2️⃣ PERFECT COLOUR
3️⃣ FERDINAND BOY ?
4️⃣ MASKED AVENGER
5️⃣ NICOLSON BALE
6️⃣ LUCA'S JEBRYNAH
7️⃣ AUBAMEYANG
8️⃣ LAVISH DIAMOND

9️⃣ GOLD DRILLER (1R)
? VARIATION (2R)#GreyhoundRacing @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/NOEBOWzM0k

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) July 3, 2022

"He must think there's a big race. It might be the people, or the atmosphere, I don't know really but to win eight from as many starts at one track is unique. He's just taken a real liking to that track."

Ferdinand Boy is likely to start a short favourite for next Sunday's $25,000 to the winner final after drawing box three. He has started favourite in 57 of his 86 starts – including nine times during his current winning streak – and Geall is hopeful he can time the start and show what he can do.

"It's better than box four, five or six.

"It's not ideal, but it's going to take a fair dog to hold him out. He only jumps fast maybe one in four starts, so he is due. A lot of people say he's a brilliant box dog, but he's not really, he's just so quick when he hits the ground.

"I'd love to see him jump fast like he did some time ago at Shepparton, really get out humming.

Geall has no plans to retire the 3½ year old with the $50,000-to-the-winner Southern Stars series at Goulburn pencilled in later in the month with a tilt at the Healesville Cup to follow.

The final of The Horizon will be run on Sunday 10 July.