Mark Delbridge has capped off an unforgettable year by claiming both the Metropolitan Trainer’s Premiership and Provincial Trainer’s Premiership at the Victorian Greyhound Awards.
It was the first Metropolitan title for Balliang-based Delbridge, who heads a prolific family operation, also including wife Lisa and son Myles, while it was his third successive Provincial Premiership.
In landing the Metropolitan Premiership, Delbridge prepared 85 winners from 441 starters and there’s absolutely no doubt which win was the highlight.
Delbridge celebrated his greatest moment in the sport when Yachi Bale stormed to victory in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup, giving ‘Team Delbridge’ a dream victory with their first runner in the great race.
Yachi Bale wasn’t the only member of the outstanding Allen Deed x Sammy Allen litter to make their mark for Delbridge over the last 12 months, with Ailee Bale (G2 Laurels finalist – 12 wins), Valor Bale (21 wins) and Zoha Bale (10 wins) also prominent.
Other standout performers for Delbridge were G1 Silver Chief placegetter and G1 Australian Cup finalist Landyn Bale and multiple Group finalist Elite Alex.
Delbridge dominated the race for the Provincial Trainer’s Premiership, as he completed a hat-trick of titles.
Delbridge secured 244 winners from 1288 starters on provincial tracks, finishing 86 winners ahead of second-placed Robert Camilleri (158 wins), with Delbridge totalling 304 provincial winners in 2020/21 and 215 in 2021/22.
The highlight for Delbridge on the provincial circuit came when grand veteran Jarick Bale claimed back-to-back victories in the G1 Sale Cup on Boxing Day.
In addition to his historic Sale Cup defence, Jarick Bale was also runner-up in the G1 Rookie Rebel at The Meadows, the G3 Sir John Dillon Memorial, and the G3 Fireball Final, while he was a G1 Hume Cup finalist.
