Fernando Bale was named the 2019-20 Greyhound Clubs Australia ‘Sire of the Year’ at the annual GCA awards on 20 September.

It was the second straight season Fernando Bale has received the prestigious award following a career on the racetrack which saw him land eight Group 1 wins and $1.29m in stakes.

“The Sire of the Year is always a really significant award for any stud dog to win, in my opinion,” proud studmaster, Paul Westerveld said.

Fernando Bale was inducted into GRV’s Hall of Fame 12 months ago for his achievements on and off the racetrack, and the collective performances of his offspring since that special moment has seen his star continue to rise.

His progeny amassed more than 5000 wins during the 2019-20 Racing Season, including 12 Group 1 victories and a record $16.2m in prize money.

Among his top performers during the season were Whiskey Riot and Sennachie, who captured five Group 1s between them and are now forging their own respective careers at stud, while his older progeny includes the likes of Tornado Tears, My Redeemer, Poke The Bear and Dyna Patty.

“He is renowned for producing pups with fantastic, easy going temperaments and I think the fact they aren’t aren’t overly big dogs, they really suit two turn racing, which is why his progeny have dominated metropolitan tracks.”

“For Fernando Bale’s offspring to be so successful at group level is a huge achievement,” Westerveld said.

“He has been producing pups that compete at the highest level from the word go, and it’s been non-stop ever since.”

Westerveld has a philosophy on what makes the seven-year-old son of Kelsos Fusileer (USA) and Chloe Allen such a phenomenal sire.

“He is renowned for producing pups with fantastic, easy going temperaments and I think the fact they aren’t aren’t overly big dogs, they really suit two turn racing, which is why his progeny have dominated metropolitan tracks,” Westerveld said.

“And the fact he is sired by an outcross has also contributed to his success at stud, and this hopefully enhances the breeding potential of his female offspring going forward.”

WATCH: Fernando Bale was inducted into GRV’s Hall of Fame in 2019.

A young family based in Victoria’s south-east, the Westervelds are thrilled to have Fernando Bale among their small team of sires at Meticulous Lodge. They cherish every moment with him and take nothing for granted.

“We just take it day by because the future is never certain when you’re dealing with a sire’s fertility, but he’s still going strong and filling quotas. We are also fortunate to have a decent amount of storage vials put away for when the time comes that he retires from stud duties.”

“He is a beautiful dog at home who loves his routine. He’s very easy going, brilliant to handle and it’s just an honour for us to be able to look after one of the all-time greats every day,” Westerveld said.

After a racing career guided by Andrea Dailly that have many regarding him as the best ever, very few, if any greyhounds have burst on the Australian stud scene like Fernando Bale. May his success, and the accolades that go with it, continue.

WATCH: Relive last week’s 2019-20 Greyhound Clubs Australia Awards.