Victoria has a ‘gang of six’ still in the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg hunt.
Four semi-finals (520m) will be held at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, with the first and second placegetters in each progressing to the $300,000 to-the-winner final on April 8.
Balliang’s Mark Delbridge has four semi-finalists flying the ‘Big V’ flag – Landyn Bale (Race 5, Box 7 – 7.30pm), Yachi Bale (Race 7, Box 2 – 8.14pm) and Elite Alex (Race 8, Box 1 – 8.33pm). NB. Reserve Kaheem Bale has obtained a start in the first semi-final.
The other two ‘great white hopes’ for the Vics are Peacock (Race 5, Box 4) – prepared by David Plumridge – and Baby Jaycee (Race 7, Box 6) – trained by Bob Douglas.
“I’m not saying he can beat She’s A Pearl, but if he lands not far behind her I think he can run her down.”
Reigning G1 Melbourne Cup hero Yachi Bale is ultimately striving to become only the third greyhound to claim the Melbourne Cup-Golden Easter Egg double – legends Highly Blessed (1990/1991) and Rapid Journey (1998).
Yachi Bale comes up against NSW superstar She’s A Pearl (Box 5), which won last year’s Golden Easter Egg. She’s A Pearl ($2.50) heads Semi-final 3 betting, with Yachi Bale ($5) and Baby Jaycee ($6).
She’s A Pearl ($8) is also in commission on the ‘All In’ market, while Yachi Bale and Baby Jaycee – a triple G1 finalist – are $31 and $41 respectively.
“It was a good run in his heat as ‘Yachi’ was last for a fair amount of the trip and only just got done,” Delbridge said.
“I’m not saying he can beat She’s A Pearl, but if he lands not far behind her I think he can run her down.
“He’ll use his ‘brain’ from box two, while She’s A Pearl hasn’t drawn favourably in box five.”
Meanwhile, G2 Launceston Cup finalist Elite Alex is the $3 second elect, behind SA wunderkind Victa Damian (Box 7 – $2.05), in Semi-final 4.
Victa Damian is joint $5 nominal favourite with Len Me Dad for the ‘Egg’, with Elite Alex also well supported at $8. Len Me Dad (Race 6, Box 1 – 7.50pm) tops the betting chart for Semi-final 2 at $2.25.
Click HERE for Sportsbet’s Golden Easter Egg semi-finals market.
“I think ‘Alex’ will use a bit of the track, but he’s in the best spot in the ‘red’,” Delbridge said.
He’ll improve dramatically this week and will give Victa Damian a run for his money.”
Dual G1 finalist Landyn Bale, arguably Delbridge’s ‘third string’, is $8 in Semi-final 1 where Peacock is $8.50. Both are $51 ‘All In’.
Click HERE for Sportsbet’s Golden Easter Egg ‘All In’ market.
“He missed the start got into a little bit of bother last week,” Delbridge said.
“I’m hoping he gets a cart across from the ‘yellow’ (Yuko Girl) and ‘green’ (Fascinate Mel).
“He’ll put himself into the race if he comes out with them.”
Three heats of the G1 Association Cup (720m) will also be conducted on the program.
Only two Victorians are engaged – Riptide Ruslie (Heat 1: Race 2, Box 1 – 6.27pm) and Korda (Heat 3: Race 4, Box 1 – 7.10pm).
Korda is $2.90 favourite, while Riptide Ruslie is $7.50. ‘All In’, they are $7.50 and $21 respectively.
WATCH: YACHI BALE (B4) ‘sprouts wings’ to win the G1 Melbourne Cup in late November last year.
