\nAfter a barnstorming 29.73s heat victory, Christo Bale is on the third line of TAB betting at $5, behind $2.10 favourite Simon Told Helen and fastest qualifier Hard Style Rico at $2.70.
\n\u201cChristo Bale has by far the strongest run-home time in the race and if he\u2019s within two or three lengths of them I can\u2019t see why he can\u2019t run them down,\u201d said Delbridge.
\n\u201cIf he\u2019s close enough it\u2019s just a matter of whether he\u2019s good enough.\u201d
\nThe in-form Christo Bale, a son of 2012 Maturity winner Barcia Bale, will be chasing back-to-back feature victories, after taking out the middle-distance Group 2 McKenna Memorial (595m) at Sandown Park earlier this month.
\n\u201cI\u2019m happy with box two. He\u2019s drawn where he wants to be, Delbridge said.
\n\u201cHe can\u2019t run the 17.40s or 17.50s up the back that Simon Told Helen and Hard Style Rico ran in their heats, but he broke 12 seconds running home. I\u2019m hoping he\u2019s sitting right on their hammer.\u201d
\nThere\u2019s an excellent chance Christo Bale could add a second Group 1 trophy to their mantelpiece, on Saturday, although it\u2019s unlikely Delbridge\u2019s greyhound racing silverware will ever rival his prized Tonka truck collection.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve been collecting Tonka trucks since 2005,\u201d Delbridge said.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve probably got about 3,500. I\u2019m only guessing but they fill two rooms. When I started collecting them I didn\u2019t realise there were so many!\u201d he added with a laugh.
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By Gerard Guthrie Ballan greyhound trainer Mark Delbridge says Christo Bale\u2019s chances in this Saturday\u2019s Group 1 KCR Pet Transport Maturity Classic (525m) hinge on the powerhouse chaser being close enough to finish over the top of superstar Simon Told Helen. After a barnstorming 29.73s heat victory, Christo Bale is on the third line of […]<\/p>\n