Avalon’s Daniel Gibbons will launch a three-pronged challenge in the $36,000 Group 3 Carlin & Gazzard Mount Gambier Cup (512m) on Sunday.
Gibbons ‘terrific triumvirate’ – Mr. Anderson (29.41sec – Best), Yahiro Bale (29.47sec) and Titan Blazer (29.57sec) – were all impressive heat winners on the weekend.
They’ll fly the Victorian flag along with the Shane Richer-trained Wharfie, which was second to Mr. Anderson (beaten 2.75L), in the $26,000 to-the-winner final.
“But deep down, I’d like to see Titan Blazer win a Group race before he retires.”
Ironically, Mr. Anderson – a recent acquisition to the Gibbons kennel – is part-owned by SA trainer Jason Newman, who won last year’s Mount Gambier Cup with Departure Gate.
Gibbons will be hoping to erase the memory of last year’s final when Quinlan Bale had no luck in transit and finished eighth.
Mr. Anderson ($7.50) proved the ultimate professional from the outset, leading from go to whoa in 29.41sec – fastest of the seven heats.
He notched his 11th win from 25 starts and third win from four starts since coming under Gibbons’ tutelage.
Yahiro Bale ($1.95F) overcame a slow start and railed superbly down the back straight before coming away for a comfortable 29.47sec victory.
Last year’s G3 SA Oaks winner, Yahiro Bale recorded her 12th win from 34 starts.
Titan Blazer ($1.40F) was trapped wide on the first turn but rallied quickly to move into second down the back straight. He received a check entering the final bend but proved too strong over the concluding stages, clocking 29.57sec.
A four-time G1 finalist – including third in the 2022 G1 Silver Chief – Titan Blazer registered his 24th win from 68 starts.
MR. ANDERSON with Zari & Jason Newman, Mel Freitag and baby Elaine, and Mark Johnson.
Yahiro Bale (Box 4), Titan Blazer (Box 5) and Mr. Anderson (Box 7) are all capable of taking out the final, according to Gibbons.
“I think if Mr. Anderson can ‘jump’ and run similar splits, he’ll be hard to beat,” he said. He won his first two starts for me from box seven.
“But deep down, I’d like to see Titan Blazer win a Group race before he retires. He had to ‘work’ in his heat.
“Yahiro Bale will need a little bit of luck as she’s not quick early. But she’d be one of the strongest in the final.”
WATCH: MR. ANDERSON (B3) was the fastest (29.41sec) of Daniel Gibbons’ three Mount Gambier Cup heat winners.
