Victoria will launch a three-pronged challenge in the inaugural ‘The 715’ final at The Gardens, in Newcastle, on Saturday night.

From six heats conducted on the weekend, Jarick Bale, Gypsy Wyong and Drako Bale flew the Vic flag progressing through to the world’s richest staying event worth a cool $500,000 to the winner.

Jarick Bale, trained by Mark Delbridge, won his heat in 41.84sec while Drako Bale and Gypsy Wyong – both prepared by Andrea Dailly, clocked 41.86sec and 42.10sec respectively.

NSW superstar Miss Ezmae (Box 1), at $2.90, heads TAB fixed odds betting for the final, from compatriot Oh Oh Range (Box 2) and Jarick Bale (Box 3) – both at $4.00. Gypsy Wyong (Box 7) is an $8.00 chance and Drako Bale (Box 6) is the rank outsider quoted at $34.00.

Miss Ezmae registered a 41.73sec heat win, but it was Oh Oh Range which had everyone taking more than a second glance at the semaphore board with a stunning 41.42sec performance – only .02sec off the track record.

Delbridge realises Jarick Bale faces a daunting task, but he was cock-a-hoop after the heat win.

Dubbed “Mr Versatile”, Jarick Bale is a dual G1 winner – Sale Cup (650m) and Rookie Rebel (600m) – and recently finished second in the G1 Sandown Cup (715m).

Jarick Bale – a litter brother of Graclyn Bale and younger half-brother of former champ Christo Bale – has won 27 races (with 13 seconds and nine thirds) from 70 starts and $382,363 in prizemoney.

And don’t discount Dailly’s duo which are G1 stars in their own right!

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In fact, Gypsy Wyong is chasing her fifth G1 trophy having won a Topgun Stayers (730m), Bold Trease (715m), Zoom Top (730m) and Association Cup (720m).

Gypsy Wyong has notched 19 wins (with 11 seconds and four thirds) from 49 starts and $479,845 in stakes, so victory would place her on the cusp of the magical $1 million mark.

Drako Bale – born to be a staying star being out of all-time great Fanta Bale – is a real quiet achiever.

He’s only won nine races (with 17 seconds and 10 thirds) from 58 starts and prizemoney totalling $82,403. However, he’s a two-time G1 finalist – ironically finishing sixth to Gypsy Wyong in the Bold Trease and eighth to Jarick Bale in the Sale Cup.