He was the ‘talk of the town’ after his mind-boggling come-from-behind victory in the $650,000 to-the-winner Group 1 Sportsbet Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park last Saturday night.
But the ‘greyhound on everyone’s lips’, Yachi Bale, is quickly seeking more G1 glory.
His career is only 22 starts ‘long’ – producing nine wins, including his past three – but the Mark Delbridge-trained powerhouse is on a history-making course.
And he’s back against his own ‘age group’ contesting the prestigious all-male Sportsbet Silver Chief series (525m).
Yachi Bale (Box 7) is engaged in Heat 4 (Race 7, 8.37pm) at The Meadows on Saturday night. He’s $2.90F on Sportsbet’s fixed odds market to claim a must-win heat.
Success on the weekend would ensure Yachi Bale – a Sep ’20 son of The Meadows 525m track record holder Allen Deed – lines up in the $100,000 to-the-winner final on December 10.
And if he were to take home the ultimate prize, he would become only the fourth greyhound to land the Melbourne Cup-Silver Chief double – joining Light Of Fire (1994), Kantarn Bale (1999) and Closing Argument (2005/2006).
A kaleidoscope of young speedsters will line up in eight heats, also including Amron Boy (Heat 5 – $1.55); Rejuvenate (Heat 2 – $1.85); and All Spritzed Up (Heat 3 – $3).
Below is a heats’ synopsis:
Heat 1 (Race 4 – 7.33pm)
Somewhat a pick-it-with-a-pin affair, with the main chances appearing to be Amron Dan (Box 3), which boasts a slick 29.80sec PB, along with G3 Great Chase finalists Elite Alex (Box 8) and Mepunga Raider (Box 4).
Heat 2 (Race 5 – 7.53pm)
Looms as a ‘two-dog war’ between Rejuvenate (Box 1) – nine from 11, including his past five – and G3 SA Derby winner Deadly Class (Box 8), which has clocked a smart 29.88sec PB.
Heat 3 (Race 6 – 8.17pm)
Another even affair, with G3 Great Chase winner All Spritzed Up (Box 7) shading WA star Electrified (Box 8) – 14 from 18 – in betting, followed by False Confidence (Box 4), Blue Demon (Box 1) and Valor Bale (Box 3).
Heat 4 (Race 7 – 8.37pm)
G1 Melbourne Cup hero Yachi Bale (Box 7) is being pressed for favouritism by exciting talent Shadow Riot (Box 1) – five from seven, including his past four – which has registered a fast 29.22sec Sandown Park win. Geelong Derby runner-up Dundee Smokey (Box 3) also has strong claims.
Click HERE for Sportsbet’s Silver Chief heats market
Heat 5 (Race 8 – 8.56pm)
Amron Boy (Box 8), which was gallant in defeat to Wow She’s Fast in the ‘Sportsbet Showdown’ on Melbourne Cup night, holds a mortgage on this heat. He’s five from 10 here, with a blistering 29.55sec PB.
Heat 6 (Race 9 – 9.18pm)
Landyn Bale (Box 6) – eight from 16 – and G2 Bendigo Cup runner-up Salad Dodger (Box 8) should go ‘paw to paw’. Fiorano (Box 1), which faces his acid test, cannot be dismissed.
Heat 7 (Race 10 – 9.39pm)
Appears a race in three between Great Chase runner-up Like An Arrow (Box 6) – seven from 14 – Scofflaw (Box 1) – four from eight here – and Zoha Bale (Box 3), which is the last dog to have defeated Yachi Bale.
Heat 8 (Race 11 – 9.56pm)
G3 Northern Districts Cup finalist Hot Scotch (Box 1) – a litter brother of Rejuvenate – and G2 Healesville Cup runner-up Quinlan Bale (Box 6) are the popular elects. But don’t underestimate Tinker Norm (Box 3) – five from nine – and G1 Hume Cup finalist Triumph (Box 4).
WATCH: The ‘baby of the field’, YACHI BALE (B4) finishes at the rate of knots to collar FERNANDO MICK (B5) and PLAINTIFF (B1) in the G1 Melbourne Cup.
