The big-race ‘demon’ that ‘haunted’ “Team Gibbons” is a ‘ghost’ of the past.

Avalon’s Daniel Gibbons reckons winning The Arrow (Quinlan Bale) and securing a quinella in the Victorian Straight Track Championship (Quinlan Bale and Nicolson Bale) has silenced the ‘spectre’.

A wise sage once uttered “failure can’t cope with persistence”.

Indeed, Gibbons and wife Rebecca epitomise the “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” proverb.

Now, with the ‘monkey off their back’, their sights are squarely set on a breakthrough black-type victory in the $78,795 Group 2 Healesville Cup (350m) on Sunday.

Aptly, it’s June ’20 Feral Franky x Ethla Allen litter brothers Quinlan Bale and Nicolson Bale which are not only chasing a $50,000 first prize but intrinsically a ‘Healesville Festival of Racing’ clean sweep for the Gibbons.

In last week’s Cup heats, Nicolson Bale (19.24sec) scored by 0.7L over the Jason Thompson-trained Typhoon Sammy.

Quinlan Bale finished second, beaten 1.3L, to the fastest heat winner – NSW flier Sacred Stance (19.07sec).

“Quinlan Bale should get a clear run from the ‘red’… Nicolson Bale is a bit hit and miss early.”

Subsequently, Sacred Stance ($3.50) heads betting on the final from Panama Canal ($3.60) and Action Girl ($5.00). Quinlan Bale and Nicolson Bale are both at $6.00, along with Unleash Collinda.

Nicolson Bale (26 starts for 12 wins) has also been a finalist in the
G3 Warragul St Leger (7^th), G3 National Straight Track Championship (7^th) and The Horizon (2^nd).

Quinlan Bale (27 starts for 12 wins) is a four-time G3 finalist this year – National Straight Track Championship (5^th); Bob Payne Sprint (5^th), Mount Gambier Cup (8^th) and Wagga Cup (6^th) – all this year.

And here’s Daniel Gibbons’ quick assessment on their chances.

“Quinlan Bale should get a clear run from the ‘red’… And if that happens, he could probably break 19 seconds.

“Nicolson Bale is a bit hit and miss early… He plays up in the boxes, so it’s a matter of him getting the timing right.”

The Healesville Cup is a crackerjack field that also comprises last year’s winner and four-time ‘country cups king’ Ferdinand Boy, which was upstaged by 2.5L in a heat by the Thompson-trained ‘new kid on the block’ Unleash Collinda (19.08sec), along with other heat winners Panama Canal (19.19sec) and Action Girl (19.38sec).

Pawnote: Typhoon Sammy will ‘storm’ to a $50,000 country cups bonus if successful. The bonus is paid to the first greyhound that wins three country cups in one calendar year. Typhoon Sammy won the G2 Traralgon Cup and G2 Horsham Cup.    

WATCH: NICOLSON BALE (B4) staves off TYPHOON SAMMY (B6) in a Healesville Cup heat last Sunday.