Barcia Bale

By Gerard Guthrie

GRV Hall of Fame inductee Barcia Bale has undoubtedly been one of the dominant forces in Australian greyhound racing breeding in the 21^st century.

Over the last decade, Barcia Bale and another champion Wheeler family stud dog in Fernando Bale have towered above all other sires.

Having stood together throughout their stud careers at Meticulous Lodge, it’s fitting the super sires will now take pride of place alongside one another in the Hall Of Fame.

“He truly deserves it. He’s just been a phenomenal sire,” said stud master Paul Westerveld of Barcia Bale’s Hall of Fame elevation.

“He’s been one of the best sires we’ve had.

“He’s done the most amount of breeding of any stud dog before him, which is an unbelievable achievement.

“His pups have won over $100 million, and they’ve only been racing since 2014. There’s still many yet to go, so who knows where that figure might end up.

“He’s just been a champion of our sport.”

Barcia Bale was bred to be special, being a son of 2000 Melbourne Cup winner Go Wild Teddy and grandson of another all-time stud great in Head Honcho.

His mother, Princess Bale, is a daughter of the phenomenal producer Gold Rush Bale, whose progeny, including 2011 Melbourne Cup winner Dyna Tron, won more than $1 million.

Numbers don’t lie, and by any breeding measure, be it quantity or quality, Barcia Bale exemplifies greatness.

At the time of his induction, Barcia Bale had sired the winners of more than 36,600 races, with his offspring banking an incredible $107,892,142 in prizemoney (statistics courtesy of Greyhound Recorder).

Paul Westerveld didn’t have to be asked twice when late, great breeding icon Paul Wheeler asked him to stand Barcia Bale at stud.

“It was a dream come true,” said Westerveld.

“My whole dream in greyhounds was to get a stud dog that made it and he was my first (stud) dog that really made it.

“When Paul (Wheeler) spoke to me about having him, I was sad for Paul that he couldn’t race him anymore, but from a selfish point of view I was so excited because I knew how many people would use him.

“When he started stud duties he was so popular. It was crazy.

“Even to this day, I’ve only got a few vials left and people offer $20,000 for them. It’s crazy that I ended up with a dog like him.”

Any list of Barcia Bale’s best progeny reads like a who’s who of Australian greyhound racing’s standout performers of recent years.

At the forefront of his offspring is Dyna Double One, which beat his sire into GRV’s Hall Of Fame by one year, being inducted in 2022.

Dyna Double One (31 wins from 54 starts) was a three-time G1 winner, upstaging arch-rival Fernando Bale in an unforgettable 2015 Melbourne Cup Final, broke both The Meadows’ and Sandown Park’s middle distance records and banked $1,160,316 in prizemoney.

Dyna Double One is also the sire of dual G1 winner Tiggerlong Tonk.

Shima Shine (37 from 64), Victorian Greyhound of the Year and Sprinter of the Year in 2020/21, was also a multiple G1 winner and is now showing promising signs at stud.

Aston Dee Bee (35 from 65) won the 2017 Melbourne Cup, was a dual country cup winner and set multiple track records.

Aston Dee Bee continued Barcia Bale’s legacy at stud, producing a host of elite performers, headlined by reigning Australian Greyhound of the Year She’s A Pearl, G1 winners Photo Man, Untapped, and Vice Grip, and country cups stars Typhoon Sammy and Mobile Legend.

Dual G1 winner and former Sandown 515m record holder Hooked On Scotch is another standout son of Barcia Bale making his mark at stud, being the sire of sensational New Zealand import Postman Pat and Rejuvenate.

Simon Told Helen (26 from 48) was a four-time winner at G1 level, Mystic Riot won the inaugural Million Dollar Chase, while Barcia Bale has also sired elite middle distance (Christo Bale) and staying greyhounds (Miss Ezmae, Just Terms).

The list truly does go on.

“I think ‘Barcia’ will live on through his sons and daughters,” Westerveld said.

“They’re already producing, the sky is the limit for his offspring, and I think for decades to come we will see Barcia Bale in the pedigrees of many future champions.”

Barcia Bale becomes the Wheeler family’s fifth Hall Of Fame inductee, joining his son Dyna Double One, Fanta Bale, Ferdinand Bale, and Kantarn Bale.

“If Paul (Wheeler) was still alive he would be tickled pink,” said Westerveld.

About GRV’s Hall of Fame: The people and greyhounds inducted into the Victorian greyhound racing Hall Of Fame have been recognised for their excellence, integrity, consistency, longevity, and overall contribution to the industry.