Graeme Bate’s Ladies Bracelet Semi Finals Clean Sweep
Graeme Bate's amazing run of success continued in strong fashion last night at Wentworth Park.
Just one week after Radley Bale's Group 1 Golden Easter Egg win, Bate stamped the 2011 Ladies Bracelet series as his own, winning all four of the Group 2 heats.
In the opening heat Bate rugged up Thecla Bale (box 2) and Wongawilli Wala (box 3), both of whom were on debut at Wentworth Park. Wongawilli Wala continued her good form from a last start 29.58 Sandown win by leading all the way from box 3 in 5.37, 29.86. Thecla Bale took the trial home for a 4.5 length second to give Bate the quinella and the first two runners through to the final.
In the second Ladies Bracelet heat, Bate had rails runner Darya Bale ideally drawn from box one, and Sonia Allen jumping from box six, getting a run as reserve when Magic Dust withdrew. Again it was Bate from start to finish with Darya Bale utilising the rails draw to run 5.42, 29.81 and lead all the way. Troy Iwanyk's Kalden Athena overcame a checkered run and got home hard to finish second 2.25 lengths away.
In the third Bracelet heat Bate was represented by Shereen Bale (box one) and Carol Allen (box eight), and it was Shereen Bale using box one to advantage to hunt through at the post the first time and put paid to the rest of the field, running out a 5 length winner in 5.38 (Mighty Elite), 29.79. Amakler Girl for Robert Stack got home well to finish second, ahead of Bate's other greyhound Carol Allen, who was 2 lengths third after being last to leave the boxes.
In the final heat, Bate's assault on the NSW bitches classic continued, rugging up Aleta Allen (box four) and Tonneli Bale from box eight. And after a tardy getaway and being midfield early, Tonelli Bale finished best of all to win the final heat in 5.37 (Sienna's Delight), 29.99. Rod McDonald's Good Thing beat home a bunched field 5.5 lengths away in second to also qualify for the final.
Following the heats at Wentworth Park the box draw for next Saturday night's final was completed on track. The details of the official draw are published below, and have seen Bate draw amazingly well with the three inside boxes and the two extreme outside boxes to hold Bate greyhounds in the starter's hands.
A cheque for $25,000 together with a presentation rug and trophy of a magnificent ladies bracelet manufactured by the sponsors awaits the winner of this Group 2 event. All place getters receive a GBOTA Commemorative Medallion as a memento of the occasion.
There's also a second ladies bracelet available in a lucky draw for the ladies attending – every lady attending will receive an entry form for the draw which will be conducted track side immediately after the running of the final. The value of the bracelet to be won is over $2000.
Also, all ladies attending on Saturday for the final will receive free entry.
The final goes as race 8 at 9.57 pm on Saturday's ten race program. Gates open at 5.30 pm with the first race at 7.27 pm. Entry is $5.50 for adults with children free.
2011 Evans & Son Jewellers Ladies Bracelet Final
May 7, 2011 520 metres
1. Tonneli Bale Graeme Bate
2. Shereen Bale Graeme Bate
3. Wongawilli Wala Graeme Bate
4. Kalden Athena Troy Iwanyk
5. Good Thing Rodney McDonald
6. Amakler Girl Robert Stack
7. Darya Bale Graeme Bate
8. Thecla Bale Graeme Bate
9. Shady's Lesson Owen Langley
10. Carol Allen Graeme Bate