Maturity Classic
Bate-Wheeler combo snare Maturity Quinella
31 July 2011
The successful Graeme Bate-Paul Wheeler combination continued its amazing run in 2011, capturing the quinella in the Group 1 Hudson Pacific Maturity Classic over 525 metres at The Meadows on Saturday night.
The highly-fancied Shereen Bale ($3.20) used her wide draw perfectly, displaying sizzling speed to round up early leaders Rewind and Mepunga Nicky in the run into the back straight, eventually stopping the clock at a Best of Night 29.75 to claim her first Group successThe news only got better for Bate and Wheeler as the fast-finishing Stefan Bale ($15.40) strode into second spot, one and a half lengths away from the winner.
Early leader Rewind ($8.40) was a further six and a quarter lengths away in third, while favourite Kilty Lad ($1.80) found interference throughout the run and finished fourth.
Handler Joe Briffa paid credit to Lara trainer Graeme Bate, who is enjoying one of his most successful years in what has been an amazing training career to date.
“It has been an unbelievable year for Graeme. The amount of winners in 2011 has been sensational.
Shereen Bale hurt her hock after a run at The Gardens (in January), but it looks as if she has come back better than ever, which is a credit to Graeme.”
“Once Shereen Bale found the bunny, it was all over. We were very confident going into the race because the draw was going to give her the room she needs early to really accelerate.”
In winning the Group 1 Hudson Pacific Maturity Classic, Shereen Bale won $75,000 – the highest purse in the race’s 41-year history, improving her record to 14 wins from 36 starts. The Bate and Wheeler combination also took home $22,000 for Stefan Bale’s performance in second.After the placed runners the field finished in the following order 4th Kilty Lad ($1.80), 5th Black Saharrah ($56.90), 6th Bogie Beltah ($49.00) 7th Mepunga Nicky ($11.40) and Dyna Bert ($40.60).
Shereen Bale is a White & Brindle bitch whelped January 2009 by Over Flo from Horizon Bale (Stately Bird x Vodeena Bale). She is raced by Paul Wheeler and trained at Lara by Graeme Bate. She has now won 14 races and been placed on 16 occasions from her 36 starts. The Maturity Classic first prize of $75,000 brings Shereen Bale’s overall prizemoney to $135,490.
The Maturity Classic was first held at Olympic Park in 1970 when won by talented sprinter Phantom’s Heir first prize at that time was $1250. The prizemoney increased marginally until 1975 when it went to $3,500. In 77 it was $5,600 and jumped to $7000 in 79 before going to $10,000 from 1980 until 1987 the year the mighty New Tears won the race. First prize went to $15,000 for seven years then to $20,000 for two years and reached $30,000 in the year 2000. In 2001 it was worth $40,000 and the Classic was won by AGRA Hall Of Famer Brett Lee. It was elevated the next year to $50,000 and again this year 2011 to $75,000. Listed below is the Maturity Classic Honour roll highlighted by some of the many stars that enjoyed outstanding careers after winning the feature.
1970 Phantom’s Heir, 1971 Linden Lad, 1972 Nulla’s Call, 1973 Shan’s Tempest, 1974 Temlee, 1975 Warranwood Girl, 1976 Aaron King, 1977 Overflow Love, 1978 Satan’s Legend, 1979 Marajax, 1980 Worthy Weston, 1981 Murchison Champ, 1982 Rocky Pyramid, 1982 Wynlee Spirit, 1983 “Not Held” 1984 Broken Cup, 1985 Storm Glade, 1986 Pharaoh’s Mask, 1987 New Tears, 1988 Hay Dinney, 1989 Best Of Blue, 1990 Eureka Man, 1991 Enfield, 1992 Executive Class, 1993 Keystone, 1994 Refur, 1995 Northern Legend, 1996 Royal Honcho, 1997 Running Gold, 1998 Adrenalin Storm, 1999 Coriole, 2000 Acacia Dee, 2001 Brett Lee, 2002 Rocka Cockatoo, 2003 Hall’s Northern, 2004 Hallucinate, 2005 Poetic Magic 2006 Train A Journey, 2007 Run’s House, 2008 Paddy’s Flame, 2009 Aston Trivett and 2010 El Grand senor.
Thanks for information supplied by George Farrugia M.G.R.A Publicity Officer
| For more information please contact: Neil Brown GCA Publicity Officer Tel: 03 97691234 Mob: 0423 129 950 nbrown@agra.com.au |
David Simonette GCA Executive Officer simonette7862@gmail.com |
