Amity Bale And Turanza Bale Salute In Style
It has been a very long time since master trainer Graeme Bate has lead one of his chasers to the boxes, but when the quality field for the Group 3 Sport 927 Silver Bullet was paraded the punters were clamouring to back the dog on the end on the multiple group winners lead – Turanza Bale.
Obviously confident, not even Graeme himself could predict what was to unfold as his black speedster overcame a moderate beginning to muster quickly and smash one of Australia's most sought after mantles – The Meadows track record. Running home in 11.90, Turanza Bale shaved 0.01 off Big Daddy Cool's record that has stood since 2004.
Positioned just behind the early leader Dyna Lachlan and kennel mate Velocette through the first turn, Turanza Bale was finely poised to at last break his hoodoo at the highest level and win his first group race after seven desperate attempts.
Running strongly to the line, Turanza Bale held off the valiant Velocette who reduced the winning margin to just 1 length with Dyna Lachlan a further 2 ¾ lengths in arrears.
But not to be overshadowed kennelmate Amity Bale turned in a faultless display to romp to victory in the Group 2 Hume Cup and give Graeme Bate a group race double for the night.
Jumping straight to the front from box 2, Amity Bale ($1.80fav) put the race beyond doubt within the first 50 of the 725 metre journey and raced away to win by 9 ¼ lengths in 42.27 = again registering a new time standard taking 0.01 off Mantra Lad's record. Now regarded as the best stayer in Australia, Amity Bale stamped her authority with a commanding victory.
Running on strongly from last early the Darren McDonald trained Shadow Boxer ($5.30) filled second with track specialist Wot Price Pink ($45.90) filling the minor end of the prize.
The Win made it four group victories in a row for Amity Bale she now heads back to Wentworth Park Saturday night for a heat of the Group 2 Summer Cup, again looking the one to beat in the series.
After the placings the field finished in the following order 4th Drill ‘Em ($3.70), 5th Jarvis Bale ($18.00), 6th Melandri ($29.20) 7th Tifi ($28.90) and Whitfield Bale ($27.00).
Raced by Paul Wheeler, Amity Bale is a Black Bitch whelped September 2006 by Sonic Flight from Evonne Bale (Light Of Fire x Frosty Bale) she has raced 69 times for 29 wins and 24 placings and with the $30,000 first prize for the Hume Cup took her overall stake earnings to $241,295.
The Hume Cup was initially called the Lord's Mayors Cup and was first run over 675 yards at North Melbourne in 1960, it moved with the club to Olympic Park and in 1964 became the Lord Mayors Trophy and remained a sprint race until 1988. It then became a distance event until 1994 when it was discontinued. The MGRA due to the tremendous support they are given by the Hume City Council resurrected the feature in 2000 calling the race the Hume Cup. Listed below are the past winners.
Hume Cup Honour Roll
- 1960 Fair's Orders
- 1961 Rustling Breeze
- 1962 Tree Lover
- 1963 Diropace
- 1964 Rocket Streak
- 1965 Cheltenham Lass
- 1966 Munich Boy
- 1967 Bold Charmer
- 1968 Fawn Waters
- 1969 Dashing Phantom
- 1970 Mayo Gold
- 1971 Banca
- 1972 Flying Stage
- 1973 Half Your Luck
- 1974 Temlee
- 1975 Plain Winnie
- 1976 Matireka
- 1977 Shelley O'Reilly
- 1978 Manteca Boy
- 1979 Shane's Level
- 1980 Vibrant King
- 1981 Striding Ahead
- 1982 Durante Lad
- 1983 Castle Ridge
- 1984 National Poppy
- 1985 Rumpus Pappa
- 1986 I'm Nugget
- 1987 Swift Laser
- 1988 Regal Kid
- 1989 Blue Speed
- 1990 Interest Only
- 1991 Modern Express
- 1992 Modern Express
- 1993 Saltwater Sid
- 2000 Mr. Boswell
- 2001 Bentley Babe
- 2002 Tears Of Jupiter
- 2003 Oh Behave
- 2004 Triple Trio
- 2005 Jacarrest
- 2006 Sargent Major
- 2007 Technoman
- 2008 Fallen Zorro
- 2009 Amity Bale