You can’t beat local knowledge… And that aphorism rang true at ‘Beckley Park’ tonight.
The G2 Geelong Cup heats (520m) produced a night of upsets, but country cups champ Yozo Bale led a bonanza for locally trained greyhounds.
In fact, all eight finalists in next Friday’s $50,000 to-the-winner Cup final are from the Geelong region, as are the two reserves.
Trained at Anakie by young prodigy Correy Grenfell, 27, Yozo Bale – winner of last year’s G2 Bendigo Cup and G2 Ballarat Cup – is now chasing his third country cup victory.
Contesting Heat 4, Yozo Bale ($2.70F) led from go to whoa for an effortless 3.4L win over Tom The Cheap ($21.30), with Aston Silk ($3.90) a further 3.6L away third in 29.80sec.
He was also a finalist in last year’s Geelong Gold Cup, finishing eighth to ill-fated champion Simon Told Helen, while kennelmate Tiggerlong Tonk finished third. (Grenfell also finished second with former champion Orson Allen in the 2018 Geelong Gold Cup.)
And back in mid-February, Yozo Bale finished runner-up to NSW start Wow in the G1 Temlee at The Meadows.
It’s sure to be a huge 24 hours for Grenfell who has Tiggerlong Tonk engaged in tomorrow night’s $150,000 to-the-winner G1 Perth Cup at Cannington.
Jeff Britton, also from Anakie, will launch a two-pronged challenge in the final courtesy of fastest heat winner Weblec Jet (Heat 5) and his older half-brother Weblec Ace (Heat 1).
Weblec Jet ($4.50) defeated Well Grounded ($11.80) by 3.2L, with Qwara Bale ($4.30) a further 3.6L away third in 29.77sec (Best).
He was a National Derby finalist in January and runner-up in last year’s G3 Warragul St Leger.
Now a nine-time Group race finalist, Weblec Ace ($8.00) defeated the fast-finishing Sweet As Emm ($3.90) by 1.2L, with the tiring Aussie Secret ($7.30) a further 0.4L away third in 30.01sec. G1 Australian Cup finalist Shima Classic ($1.90F) – a younger half-sister of superstar Shima Shine – finished seventh, beaten 11L.
