Irma Bale has been named the 2012 Sandown Greyhound Racing Club Greyhound Of The Year.
The versatile daughter of Bartrim Bale and Amelia Bale won over all three race distances in 2012, finishing the year with six wins and a third from 11 starst and $165,810 in prize money at Sandown Park alone.
“She just loves racing here,” said an elated Graeme Bate.
“It’s been a great track for her and for a lot of my dogs, but what she was able to do this year has been amazing.”
After running fourth in the Group 2 Macro Meats Laurels in her last start of 2011, Irma Bale soon embarked on a staying campaign that culminated in a memorable victory in the Group 1 RSN Sandown Cup in May, defeating staying sensation Miata in the process.
“I always thought she’d be a good dog and I thought she’d be good stayer. The Sandown Cup was definitely the highlight, the whole race changed in the last 100 meters and she was able to win it, it was a fantastic effort.
She followed that victory with an outstanding win in the Group 2 McKenna Memorial over 595m in June before switching back to a sprint campaign which saw her win a TAB Melbourne Cup Prelude in October. In doing so, she became the first greyhound to win a feature event over all three distances since the introduction of the 595m boxes in March 2010.
“Not many greyhounds can switch back from a staying campaign and sprint as well as she did. I’m very proud of what she was able to do.
Irma Bale comes from a remarkable greyhound family, being from the same litter as 515m track record holder Bekim Bale and former track record holder Heston Bale. Her dam, Amelia Bale was herself an accomplished stayer and was a litter sister to 2009 Sandown Greyhound Of The Year Amity Bale.
The Sandown Greyhound Of The Year is decided by a vote of Sandown Directors, CEO and Racing Manager, factoring in the greyhound’s racing performances at Sandown Park throughout the year. Irma Bale was declared the winner ahead of Fabregas, General Destini, Got A Moment and Miata.
