Avalon trainer Daniel Gibbons went ‘straight to the point’ in the lead-up to the $15,250 Victorian Straight Track Championship (350m) – Race 8, 12.42pm – at Healesville on Sunday.

Gibbons called ‘a spade a spade’, providing a candid prognostication on his two chances – Quinlan Bale and Kelsey Bale – in the $10,000 to-the-winner final.

Quinlan Bale (Jun ’20 Feral Franky x Ethla Allen) is attempting back-to-back wins in the event and Gibbons is eyeing back-to-back quinellas as Nicolson Bale – a litter brother of Quinlan Bale – was runner-up last year.

Subsequently, both qualified for the National Straight Track Championship final (324m) at Richmond. Quinlan Bale finished fifth and Nicolson Bale seventh to Mr. America.

Around this time last year, Quinlan Bale was arguably the best straight track speedster in the state. He’d also won The ARROW at Healesville and finished second to NSW flier Sacred Stance in the Group 2 Healesville Cup.

“His acceleration after the first 10 metres, if nothing gets in his way, is second to none.”

But roll on nearly 12 months and Quinlan Bale seems to be the sensational straight tracker that time forgot! Indeed, due to the fact he hadn’t returned to Healesville until finishing second to Unleash Collinda in a Free For All on August 6.

In a Victorian Straight Track Championship heat last week, Quinlan Bale finished second to Maybe Yesterday (beaten 2.1L) in 19.05sec (Best). Unleash Collinda was a further 0.6L away third.

Meanwhile, in the other heat, Kelsey Bale – making her straight track debut – finished third (beaten 2.7L) to Cybertruck in 19.34sec.

Both Quinlan Bale (Box 6) and Kelsey Bale (Box 2) will now face straight track superstars Unleash Collinda (Box 1) and Maybe Yesterday (Box 8) in the final.

Quinlan Bale is three from six over 350m at Healesville, with 18.641sec track record holder Unleash Collinda (10 from 12) and Maybe Yesterday (six from 10) at the picturesque Yarra Valley venue.

“If he (Quinlan Bale) jumps, he’s a massive chance,” Gibbons said. “His acceleration after the first 10 metres, if nothing gets in his way, is second to none.

“As long as nothing touches him early, it doesn’t matter what box he draws up the straight.”

And Gibbons added Quinlan Bale is “more than a straight tracker” evidenced by his impressive city and country record on the ‘circle’, which includes five Group race finals – highlighted by the 2022 G2 Bendigo Cup (3^rd) and 2023 G2 Ballarat Cup (3^rd).

Gibbons is also equally buoyant about Kelsey Bale, saying “I wouldn’t discount her”.

“If she jumps in front of Unleash Collinda, I can’t see why she can’t win. She spent the whole race looking for the rails in her heat.

“She’d never seen the track; she could possibly be the surprise packet. And she’s similar to Quinlan Bale in the respect of her acceleration.”

Meanwhile, Jeff Britton will also launch a two-pronged challenge with Cosmic Sin (Box 3) and That’s Ivy’s (Box 4).

Pawnote: Winner and runner-up in the Victorian Straight Track Championship qualify for the $28,000 to-the-winner G3 National Straight Track Championship final – also at Healesville – on Saturday, August 26.

WATCH: QUINLAN BALE (B4) defeats litter brother and kennelmate NICOLSON BALE (B2) in last year’s Victorian Straight Track Championship.