Lots of racing left in Jarick Bale after his big Sale Cup salute
The way Jarick Bale led from start to finish to comfortably win the Sale Cup has given trainer Mark Delbridge every indication he has plenty of racing left in him.
Indeed, the veteran stayer has enjoyed a fine career.
The three-year-old – who turns four on March 23 next year – has notched up 36 wins from 91 starts.
The Boxing Day victory was his third at Group 1 level, and a second consecutive Sale Cup title, lifting his career prizemoney earnings past $550,000.
A 40 per cent winning record is nothing to sneeze at.
But last month Delbridge told this publication Jarick Bale “won't be racing forever” and his kennelmate Yachi Bale would pick up from his as the operation's No.1 runner.
Well, Jarick Bale wound back the clock to beat the two-year-old young gun on Monday night, crossing the line in 37.09 seconds.
Delbridge's wife Lisa handled the Melbourne Cup winner, and he was a competitive third, finishing the 650m journey in 37.41 seconds.
Dookie Devil was runner-up for Glenn Dainton, 4 ½ lengths behind the victor.
It was enough for Delbridge to indicate Jarick Bale should easily bring up more than 100 career starts.
“He's still got races left in him, even though he's coming up to four years old,” he told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“He's had 91 starts, and he's still going as good as when he was two years old.
“He'll tell me when he's had enough. He's going super now, so why stop him?
“I'd like to aim him for the Rookie Rebel (at Group 1 level over 600m during the Australian Cup Carnival on February 11), and we'll see what happens.”
Monday night's victory in the $120,335 feature was Jarick Bale's sixth from eight starts over 650m at Sale, as well as his second-straight title.
“He's always competitive and he does like Sale,” Delbridge said.
“He's done a lot more than his half-brother, Christo Bale.
“Christo Bale was a good dog – he won just under $300,000. But he never won a Group 1 race.
“This bloke has won three now, which his half-brother couldn't do.”
With Jarick Bale's long body length, love of Sale and overall experience, he was always going to be difficult to run down once he crossed over to the rail and found the front early.
“Once he led, he's very hard to run down and beat. In all his races at Sale he hasn't led,” Delbridge said.
“When he led I was quite surprised, but I thought it would take a good dog to beat him, which I didn't think would happen.
“It's just the way he races. It's a bit different over 595m at The Meadows where he can lead, but not usually in these 650m races.”
Delbridge said he was also aiming Yachi Bale at the Rookie Rebel, and was happy with his third-placed effort in the Sale Cup.
“I suppose he'll also be Rookie Rebel-bound,” he said.
“I think he likes Sandown better than The Meadows.
“I'll probably give him a start over 600 at The Meadows next Saturday night.
“I was surprised both of them jumped as good as they did.
“Usually they're not leader dogs.”
2022 Sale Cup Replay (650m) – 26/12/22
Jarick Bale – 37.09 seconds
More greyhound racing news