Kelsey Clinches Bonus With Warrnambool Romp

AUSTRALIA'S current racetrack darling, Kelsey Bale, will now head toward the Group 1 Sapphire Crown at Sandown next week after clinching three country Victorian Cups in a row with victory in the G2 Warrnambool Cup (450m) on Wednesday night.

Kelsey Bale (Feral Franky-Ethla Allen) was always in charge when winning the Warrnambool Cup by three lengths over Stealth in 24.95 to take her career record to 63 starts for 22 wins and 24 placings with her earnings now $425,000.

She collected the $50,000 bonus for winning three country Cups in a year following her wins in the Ballarat and Geelong Cups.

Trainer Daniel Gibbons was, naturally, overjoyed at the bitch's performance.

But he also signalled a warning that the bitch is no good thing to head to Albion Park late in June for the $1 million Brisbane Cup (520m).

“She's not a good traveller,” admitted Daniel.

Country cups royalty

KELSEY BALE was a class above her rivals in the Group 2 @sportsbetcomau #WarrnamboolCup Final.

She made it six straight wins and took her career earnings beyond $482,000.#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/ZBFUJkXaM9

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) May 3, 2023

“The last time we went to Albion Park with her, she fell away the longer we stayed.

“If I was to go back this year, and one million dollars is a huge temptation, I would fly into Brisbane with her, stay in a motel somewhere and come home the next day.”

Kelsey Bale added the Warrnambool Cup to her previous Cups and also her win in the Group 2 Laurels.

“We were trying to figure out after her win if she is the first dog to win three country cups in a row,” said Daniel.

“It's a bit hard to find out.”

He said the bitch's future would be decided after she runs through the Sapphire Crown.

“I will see how she goes in the Sapphire Crown before we make any more plans,” said Daniel.

“She probably needs a week off soon. She's done a lot lately.

“But, we would like to make the Melbourne Cup her target. It is coming up quicker than we think.”

Gibbons admitted the three country cups were not even on the agenda for Kelsey Bale.

“We were always going to Geelong with her because she had trialled so well there as a young dog,” he said.

“We were offered a spot in The Sandgroper in Perth but knocked it back because of the travelling.

“That's when we went for the other Cups.

“We knocked back a spot in The Phoenix and she then went and won the Laurels.”

Kelsey Bale has been in 10 Group finals in her past 24 starts. She has now made 12 Group finals in her 63-start career.

“The big improvement in her has been she's a lot smarter in her races and that's come all of a sudden,” said Daniel.

“Like last night. She needed to come out to avoid the chance of any trouble and she did just that.

“She's just too good at the moment.”