Jarick Bale stamped himself as the premier middle-distance exponent in the state with a sensational victory in tonight’s $75,000 to-the-winner Group 1 GOLD FM Sale Cup (650m).

Trained by Mark Delbridge at Balliang, Jarick Bale has enjoyed a stellar three weeks at the Gippsland track.

In his Cup lead-up, Jarick Bale won a heat of the Sale Distance Championship – clocking a mind-boggling 36.72sec – and was only 1L off the track record. He then finished an unlucky third in the final.

And last week, he was the fastest Sale Cup qualifier with a slick 37.13sec effort. His past four starts have been at Sale, resulting in three wins and one third.

Jarick Bale also did proud his retired older half-brother Christo Bale – also trained by Delbridge – which finished fourth in last year’s final. Ironically, Jarick Bale was third to Christo Bale in the G2 McKenna Memorial (595m) in early July at Sandown Park.

More recently, he was runner-up to litter sister and kennelmate Graclyn Bale in the G3 Sir John Dillon Memorial on G1 Melbourne Cup night.

Pawnote: The G1 GOLD FM Sale Cup series was the first leg of the SENTrack Gippsland Festival of Racing – to be followed by the Warragul Cup (January 14) and Traralgon Cup (Australia Day). With more than $250,000 in cash and prizes to be won across the three cups, the festival will continue to see some of the best greyhounds in Australia competing.

In winning the only G1 country cup on Victoria’s racing calendar, Jarick Bale (Mar ’19 Allen Deed x Houston Bale) notched his 19^th win (with eight seconds and nine thirds) from 51 starts with stakes totalling $173,258. His past nine outings have netted four wins, one second and four thirds.

Always handy from box eight, Jarick Bale ($3.30) defeated staying gem Mepunga Ruby ($3.00F) – which was chasing her first G1 at her third attempt – by 2.3L with Untapped ($9.30) a ‘whisker’ away third in 37.13sec. Amazingly, his winning time was identical to his heat win when he also exited from the ‘pink’ alley.

A low-key Delbridge – but that’s Mark – said post-race: “It was good to see him ‘up there’ early. But he did check himself, and I thought we’d (his chances were) lost.

“But when he came past me on the rails (rounding the home turn), I thought ‘beautiful’.

“He’s a quiet dog; he doesn’t give much emotion.”

• $112,335 Group 1 Gold FM Sale Cup: Jarick Bale (Mark Delbridge, Balliang)
• $10,000 Cup Night Match Race (650m): Gypsy Wyong (Andrea Dailly, Anakie)
• $14,960 Dyson Bus Group Charters Rising Stars (440m): Paua Of Mindy (Steven White, Buln Buln East)
• $14,960 Sale Motor Group Summer Cup Final (520m): Aston Titan (Anthony Azzopardi, Rowsley)
• $14,960 John Waugh Festival Launch Final (440m): Maxwell (Emily McMahon, Darriman)