In a perfect world, exciting young female Yahiro Bale would be in Sydney on Saturday night, looking to celebrate her second birthday in style with Group 1 glory in the Peter Mosman Opal final.
Yahiro Bale’s four-race winning streak came to an end last weekend when she missed the start from Box 1 as the $2.15 favourite in her Peter Mosman heat.
Frustratingly, for rising young Avalon trainer Daniel Gibbons and his relentless pursuit of a breakthrough Group trophy, the diminutive youngster finished fourth, when third would have given her a berth in the $75,000 to-the-winner final.
That was the first unplaced run of Yahiro Bale’s brief but impressive career, with her record standing at seven wins and three seconds from her 11 starts.
After that interstate disappointment, Plan B will see Yahiro Bale one of the headline acts in Premier Racing at The Meadows on Saturday, with Group 1 glory still very much at the forefront of Daniel Gibbons’ thinking.
“Saturday night will basically be a warm-up for the Maturity heats next weekend,” he said.
“I think she’s really good. She’s probably the best of all the good young dogs we’ve got over ‘500’.
“She’s got early pace and her run-home at her last win at Sandown was massive (10.36sec). They were saying that compared to what Wow She’s Fast runs home in.”
WATCH: YAHIRO BALE (7) powered to the line when clocking a fast 29.39sec at Sandown Park on June 23.
Yahiro Bale, which turns two on Saturday, scorched around The Meadows at her only previous appearance at the track, clocking 29.85sec on June 18.
Drawn in Box 7 for Race 7 at 8.45pm, Yahiro Bale, one of a number of exciting youngsters sired by former NSW superstar Feral Franky in the Gibbons kennel, is TAB’s $2.20 favourite, ahead of Xavien Bale (Box 1) at $2.40.
“I think she’s got a good chance, but I just don’t like seeing her drawn out wide because she’s so little (27kgs),” Gibbons explained.
“One little bump or knock can make it hard for her.
“I don’t know why, but everyone keeps calling her a he!”
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Gibbons, who’s been bedridden for the past fortnight with a back injury, was also upbeat about his other two runners on Saturday, litter brothers and potential staying stars Rohan Bale and Winnington Bale, both Group finalists.
Rohan Bale (Box 2) is $1.80 favourite in Race 6 over 600m, while Winnington Bale (Box 7) is a $4.80 chance in Race 10 over 525m.
“I think Rohan Bale’s a good chance,” he said.
“His head still isn’t 100 per cent switched on but when his mind is on the job he can really run. I thought he was unlucky not to run a place in his (G2) McKenna Memorial heat last start.
“We’ll be working Winnington Bale back up to 600m. I think that’s where his future will be.”
Yahiro Bale will again have to contend with Box 7 at The Meadows on Saturday night.
