Gradence Wins Cyril Rowe Plate At Bulli
First reserve Gradence (9) has emerged victorious in the Group 3 Sportingbet Cyril Rowe Plate at Bulli. Gradence, trained by Mark Gatt, gained a start from box one after Gatt's other chaser, Ritza Ryder, was scratched. Spring Eddie (2), Zipping Logan (3) and My Signature (4) were the best away at box rise, with Spring Eddie holding the slight ascendancy. Gradence began terribly, coming up with the lids. Around the turn, Spring Eddie and Zipping Logan shot clear by the better part of five lengths and the race looked to be between them, but Gradence (9) emerged clear from the pack and began to reel them in quickly. Down the home straight, long odds hope Zipping Logan took over the tiring Spring Eddie, with Gradence unleashed a withering burst to claim Zipping Logan in the shadows of the post by half a length. Knocka's Return finished strongly for third. The winning time was 26.47.
The favourite, My Signature, was probably the hard-luck story of the race after finding interference when crossing to the fence to lead.
Gradence is a black and white dog by Vapour Whirl-Ding's Rocket (Saintly Crew-Ding's Beauty) and this win brings up his his 22nd victory from 79 starts. The $25,000 purse brings his career earnings in excess of $125,000.
Not a bad run. All you need sometimes is some luck, a start and a decent box. The rest will happen. Well done.
Not a bad run. All you need sometimes is some luck, a start and a decent box. The rest will happen. Well done.