Balliang trainer Mark Delbridge is hoping Jarick Bale https://watchdog.grv.org.au/greyhound/461066430 provides him with successive wins in the $262,500 Group 1 RSN Sandown Cup (715m) on Thursday night.
Delbridge won Sandown GRC’s flagship staying event last year with Zipping Rambo.
Jarick Bale was the fastest qualifier from five heats last week, registering a sensational 41.29sec – around 2L off the 41.16sec track record, set by Here’s Tears on January 30, 2020.
It was his 26th win, including three of his past six, from 68 starts.
“I was one of the ‘doubting Thomases’; I didn’t think he could win,” Delbridge said. “If you had told me he’d run that time, I’d say ‘get real’.
“I thought he may weaken in the final stages, but there was still an element of the unknown.
“We were in this position last year, but the way he won his heat was similar to how Zipping Rambo won the final.
“To win two in a row would be amazing.”
Jarick Bale (Mar ’19 Allen Deed x Houston Bale), which is after his third G1, has drawn box eight in his quest for the $175,000 first prize.
“I was hoping he’d draw the ‘pink’ again,” Delbridge said. “I just wanted to be on the outside of Aston Velvet (Box 5), which cuts hard to the rail.
Jarick Bale won last year’s Sale Cup (650m) and this year’s Rookie Rebel (600m) – both over the middle distance.
Last year, he finished third to retired kennelmate Christo Bale in the G2 McKenna Memorial (595m) and second to litter sister Graclyn Bale, also trained by Delbridge, in the G3 Sir John Dillon Memorial (595m).
TAB’s fixed odds favourite for the Sandown Cup final is Mepunga Ruby at $2.40.
Jarick Bale is on the second line of betting at $4.40, along with Collinda Lady.
Untapped ($5.50) is the only other finalist under double figure odds.
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