Nine-time Group 1 winner Fanta Bale is one of the most feted greyhounds in the sport’s history.

A GRV Hall of Fame member, Fanta Bale is also a dual Australian GOTY and Victorian GOTY – both in 2016/17 and 2017/18.

During her stellar career, Fanta Bale notched 42 wins (with nine seconds and five thirds) from 62 starts. She’s third on Australia’s top stake earners list with $1,365,175.

Naturally, any of her progeny as a brood matron have had illustrious pawprints in which to follow.

But one of her sons, Rhino Bale – born on New Year’s Day 2021 and sired by another all-time great, Fernando Bale – will attempt to do mum proud at Sandown Park on Thursday night.

WATCH: RHINO BALE (B3) leads the ‘charge’ with a 34.25sec (Best) McKenna Memorial heat win last week.

Rhino Bale (Box 6) is ‘charging’ towards a $55,000 first prize in the $87,000 Group 2 McKenna Memorial (595m) – Race 8, 8.43pm

Last week, he was the fastest heat winner in 34.25sec – a half-length quicker than middle-distance ‘wizard’ Hector Fawley, who took out the other heat in 34.28sec.

Hector Fawley ($2.80) heads Sportsbet’s market from Valor Bale ($3.80) and Ailee Bale ($4), both trained by Mark Delbridge, and Rhino Bale ($8.50).

Delbridge also has Jarick Bale ($12), a finalist in last year’s event, in his quest to claim a third McKenna Memorial in the past four years. He scored with Christo Bale in 2020 and 2021.

Ironically, Rhino Bale – prepared by Samantha and Correy Grenfell – is attempting to ‘overshadow’ his mum, who was runner-up in the 2017 McKenna Memorial.

Fanta Bale was narrowly defeated by Shima Song – dam of retired superstar Shima Shine – with her younger half-sister, Bella Shima, filling third placing.

The Grenfells are hoping to atone for the 2019 edition of the race when Dyna Chancer finished fourth.

“He’s a hard dog to get past and I would imagine he’s going to be the one in front early.”

Rhino Bale has registered nine wins (with six seconds and two thirds) from 28 starts. In early April, he finished second in the G3 Easter Gift (515m) at Sandown Park.

His McKenna Memorial heat win was his first middle-distance start since late March. He’s three from five over 595m at SP.

“He’s had a couple of setbacks,” Correy said. “He injured a hock and then split a webbing in a Harrison-Dawson heat.

“He was very underdone last week, so I’d be expecting him to show improvement.”

Grenfell added that Rhino Bale “knows when it’s game time”.

“He’s a hard dog to get past and I would imagine he’s going to be the one in front early. But I would have preferred him drawn ‘on the rail’ as he’s now going to have to push hard to lead.”

Grenfell also thinks Rhino Bale could eventually measure up in staying ranks.

“How strong he’ll be, I don’t know. But the intention is to give him a crack at staying at some stage.”