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  • Wednesday, 07 Dec, 2022,
  • by Peter Quilty

Kelsey takes a ‘throw’ at Laurels Classic

The sport’s young ‘flying femmes’ line up for six heats of the Group 2 Laurels Classic (515m) at Sandown Park on Thursday night.

Avalon’s Daniel Gibbons has his hopes pinned on a ‘terrific triumvirate’ – Yahiro Bale (Race 5), Kelsey Bale (Race 8) and Piscopo Bale (Race 9).

All three are Sportsbet fixed odds favourites in their respective heats – Yahiro Bale (Heat 2 – $2.30), Kelsey Bale (Heat 5 – $1.60) and Piscopo Bale (Heat 6 – $2.45).

Based on current prices, a ‘Multi on the trio is an enticing $9.00.

Gibbons is hoping to go one better than last year when Gracie Bale was runner-up to Idolize in the Laurels. He also finished sixth with Valeska Bale.

This year, Kelsey Bale heads his three-pronged challenge in the all-female series.

Kelsey Bale has more than a touch of class, having finished third to Wow She’s Fast in the G1 Maturity Classic. She won the G3 Silver Bullet and was a finalist in the G3 Warragul St Leger (3rd), G3 Cup Night Sprint (5th) and G3 Gawler Gold Cup (5th).

Meanwhile, Yahiro Bale won the G3 SA Oaks and Piscopo Bale – a litter sister of Kelsey Bale – finished third in the Geelong Oaks and contested the Launching Pad Consolation.

Other leading contenders in the heats include Magic Muffin (Heat 1 – $2.90), Baby Jaycee (Heat 3 – $2.25) and Guelph (Heat 4 – $1.95).

Below is a summary of the heats:

Heat 1 (Race 4 – 7.55pm)
Appears a three-way tussle between Magic Muffin (Box 2) – two from three, including a 29.55sec PB – G1 Peter Mosman Opal winner Embrace (Box 1) and Jackpot Joan (Box 5), which has a 29.62sec PB.

Heat 2 (Race 5 – 8.13pm)
The ‘green’ alley looms as the only obstacle for Yahiro Bale (Box 6), nine from 20 and undefeated from two starts here with a 29.39sec PB – albeit Holy Smoke (Box 8) – four from 10, including two from four here with a 29.48sec PB – is well in commission.

Heat 3 (Race 6 – 8.37pm)
Highly underrated Baby Jaycee (Box 3) – 10 from 18, including a 29.34sec PB – will take a power of beating. However, punters have also shown support for Ailee Bale (Box 2) – 8 from 16, including a 29.28sec PB – and Amron Lass (Box 8) – a litter sister of Amron Boy.

Click HERE  for Sportsbet’s Laurels Classic heats market

Heat 4 (Race 7 – 8.58pm)
Star NSW speedster Guelph (Box 2) – six from 13 – stifles betting, with Xoie Bale (Box 5) – five from 10 – appearing her only threat.

Heat 5 (Race 8 – 9.22pm)
Kelsey Bale (Box 5) – 15 from 45, including a 29.36sec PB – has the class edge and is all the rage, although Responder (Box 3) – four from seven, including a 29.33sec PB – was simply devastating here last week and looks the real deal.

Heat 6 (Race 9 – 9.43pm)
Piscopo Bale (Box 3) – eight from 41, including a 29.49sec PB – is hit or miss early but has a monster engine. Dotty’s Gift – four from 10 – looms as the main danger.

WATCH: KELSEY BALE (B5) “powered away” to defeat AMRON BOY (B3) in the G3 Silver Bullet at The Meadows on October 31.

Peter QuiltyPeter Quilty

Peter Quilty

Peter Quilty has more than three decades of experience as assistant editor of Victorian Greyhound Weekly. He was editor of GRV monthly magazine The Adviser (2001-09) and owner/publisher of Australian Greyhound Monthly. He also served on the selection panel for the inaugural GRV ‘Hall of Fame’ inductees and for several years was an adjudicator on the Victorian GOTY. He’s also published greyhound racing yearbooks and wrote the ‘Bold Trease’ video script.

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