Talbingo Bale prevails in Waterloo Cup

Talbingo Bale led throughout in his spectacular all-the-way Group 1 Waterloo Cup win. Photo credit: Yvette Bodiam.

It takes a very special dog to break 30 seconds at Manukau Stadium.

And on Sunday, Talbingo Bale did just that, when he led throughout to win the $30,000 Waterloo Cup in 29.88.

His remarkable time was just 0.11 seconds off Winsome Ashley’s longstanding track record.

The son of David Bale and Dyna Zesty jumped straight to the front from Box 6, and from there, it was up to the others to chase him down. Down the back straight, Pedro Lee appeared dangerously close, while Opawa Wayne stalked the pair. However, Talbingo Bale found another gear in the concluding stages, running away to score by four and a half lengths, ahead of Opawa Wayne and Pedro Lee.

“Once I saw him a clear length in front, it was a great sight. It took a lot of pressure off!” said Craig Roberts.

The Canterbury trainer is no stranger to Waterloo Cup success, having previously taken out four previous editions of the race with Flash Happy (1998), Daphne Bale (2003), Dyna Vikkers (2015) and Leonard Bale (2020).

And while he’s trained plenty of champions over the years, Talbingo Bale rates right up there with the best of them.

“Probably two or three months ago, I would have said that he was in the same ballpark as Dyna Dave, Dyna Vikkers, Allen Ablett, Dirk Bale and Leonard Bale. He was right up there with them.

“I think if we have a good run with him, if he maintains the form he’s in and he can keep beginning like that, and the times he’s running, he could develop into being the best dog I’ve had.”

Three years ago, Roberts travelled to Perth, where Dyna Dave finished a commendable third in the Australian National Sprint Final. This year, the Nationals (held in Sydney in August) are a potential target for the newly crowned Waterloo Cup winner.

“I wasn’t scared to go over there with Dyna Dave and he performed exceptionally well. With the form Talbingo Bale’s in now, I would be probably be almost keener to take him, than I was for Dave.”

As for post-race celebrations?

“The only party I’m going to have is with my steering wheel for the next 20 hours!”

Craig Roberts brought Talbingo Bale into the stand at Manukau Stadium after his win, where he enjoyed pats from the public!

By Liz Whelan