The fifth SENTrack Gippsland Festival of Racing went into full swing tonight.

And getting the ‘party’ started were stars Jarick Bale and Zac’s Entity in heats of the Group 1 GOLD FM Sale Cup heats (650m).

Only inches separated the pair on times, setting the scene for an enthralling $75,000 to-the-winner final on Boxing Day.

Prepared by Mark Delbridge, Jarick Bale ($3.40) produced a Herculean effort in Heat 4, overpowering Untapped ($6.80) by two lengths in 37.13sec (Best).

Runner-up in the G3 Sir John Dillon Memorial on G1 Melbourne Cup night, Jarick Bale is a younger half-brother of Christo Bale which finished fourth for Delbridge in last year’s Sale Cup.

Jarick Bale was only one length off Sale’s 650m track record two weeks ago, clocking a mind-boggling 36.72sec in a Sale Distance Championship heat.

Similarly, freakish talent Zac’s Entity ($3.10) – prepared by Kel Greenough – produced an amazing last-to-first victory in Heat 2 accounting for Knicks Bale ($11.40) by a quarter of a length in 37.14sec.

‘Team Greenoughs’ juggernaut rolled on, having won last night’s inaugural $750,000 to-the-winner TAB Phoenix with Wow She’s Fast.

A G1 Topgun Stayers finalist, Zac’s Entity’s performance was reminiscent of ‘escape artist’ Houdini Boy which won last year’s Sale Cup for Greenough.

Local ‘great white hope’ Omega Tyson ($1.80F) won Heat 1 by one length over the fast-finishing Drako Bale in 37.22sec. The last ‘local’ to win the Sale Cup was Neo Cleo in 2018.

Trained by Barry Harper, Omega Tyson – third in the Dillon Memorial – put the writing on the wall with a gallant second to Invictus Rising in last week’s Sale Distance Championship.

Staying gem Mepunga Ruby displayed class and courage landing Heat 3 by one and a quarter lengths over My Margarita in 37.37sec.

Trained by Jeff Britton – who won the 2014 Sale Cup with Star Recall – Mepunga Ruby has already contested two G1 finals.

Mepunga Ruby was $4.50 favourite on TAB’s ‘All In’ Sale Cup market ahead of Zac’s Entity ($5.50) and Jarick Bale and Omega Tyson (both $7.50) leading into the heats.