‘Battle of Balliang’

[Wandering Eyes]

It looms as the ‘Battle of Balliang’ when sister, Graclyn Bale, and brother, Jarick Bale, renew acquaintances in tonight’s Seaside Distance Challenge (650m) at Warrnambool.

Expect no quarter given as the Mar ’19 Allen Deed x Houston Bale littermates – both trained by Mark Delbridge – engage in sibling rivalry.

Delbridge has the $6400 to-the-winner event at his mercy – a highlight of the evening as the popular annual ‘Seaside Carnival’ gets into full swing.

And the 650m track record – set by Weblec Haze (36.82sec) on January 9 this year – could be under siege!

“Jarick Bale is definitely stronger, although the middle distance doesn’t worry Graclyn Bale.”

On G1 Melbourne Cup night, Graclyn Bale had the measure of Jarick Bale by 4L in 34.08sec when they quinellaed the G3 Sir John Dillon Memorial (595m) at Sandown Park.

Since then, Graclyn Bale has gone on to finish equal fourth to Invictus Rising in the Sale Distance Championship. (Jarick Bale was third after a near-record 36.72sec heat win.)

A week later, she was fourth to Mepunga Ruby in a Sale Cup heat before a narrow 0.6L defeat at the paws of Gypsy Wyong in a $10,000 winner-takes-all Cup Night Match Race on G1 Sale Cup night. Her overall time was 37.28sec.

Meanwhile, Jarick Bale claimed the Sale Cup’s $75,000 first prize on Boxing Day in 37.13sec – identical time to his heat win.

Graclyn Bale has won 15 races (with 21 seconds and nine thirds) from 63 starts and $102,895 in prizemoney.

Jarick Bale has saluted 19 times (with eight seconds and nine thirds) from 51 starts and $173,258 in stakes. His past 10 starts have netted five wins, one second and four thirds.

So, who wins – sister or brother?

Delbridge has no hesitation in giving the nod to Jarick Bale if both receive a clear passage in transit.

“They’ve pulled up extremely well from Boxing Day,” Delbridge said. “Jarick Bale is definitely stronger, although the middle distance doesn’t worry Graclyn Bale.

Graclyn Bale (5) takes out the G3 Sir John Dillon Memorial in 34.08sec at Sandown Park.

“When she’s out in front, it’s hard to get around her. But if they had a match race, he would win easily.

“I would have preferred ‘Jarick’ (Box 7) and ‘Graclyn’ (Box 2) drawn the other way around. But he’s showing more track sense and if he finds a gap on the rails, he’ll take it.”

“However, there’s not much of a run to the first corner over ‘650’ at Warrnambool. By the ‘450’ boxes, I’ll have some idea where they are going to finish.”

Pawnote: TAB has installed Jarick Bale as a raging hot $1.65 favourite and Graclyn Bale at $4.20 for the Seaside Distance Challenge – Race 8, 8.58pm.

Jarick Bale (8) strolls to a comfortable 37.13sec victory in the G1 Sale Cup on Boxing Day.

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