If any of the fixed odds wagering operators in Australia were prepared to put up a market on whether Ben Yole would win this season's Tasmanian trainer's premiership with 100 winners or more his opening price would probably be $1.01.
Yole delivered another outstanding effort in Launceston on Sunday night preparing four winners on the nine-event card to take his season tally to 80 winners with 20 meetings remaining.
The math is simple. One winner at each of the remaining meetings would give Yole the magical century of wins and while he never started out with that goal he is warming to the prospect.
"I never think about how many wins I might train in a season. I just concentrate on working the horses that I have in the stable with the aim of winning as many races as we can and if that happens to be 100 or more then so be it," Yole said.
"I have a policy of turning the horses over regularly and thankfully I've been able to get the ones that have been able to progress once they arrive at my stables."
"The way the team is going 100 winners is very much a realistic number with 20 meetings remaining."
Yole is over 50 wins clear of his nearest rival Paul Ashwood so there is no doubt about Yole winning his first trainer's title.
His younger brother Mark also snared three winners at last Sunday night's meeting to take his season tally to 66 wins to put him 11 wins clear of his nearest rival Ricky Duggan who rarely ventures to the winter meetings at Devonport or Launceston.
Peter Staples