Lamia Bale secured her third Sandown Park group race title with a thrilling win in the $145,000 group 1 Sapphire Crown tonight.
Lamia Bale qualified as the fastest heat winner, and despite drawing box 6, was sent to the boxes the $2.40 favourite for the final. She began well from the awkward box and mustered pace brilliantly to cross the field and led clearly through the first turn. She extended her lead down the back straight and passed the second split with a commanding four length advantage over her rivals.
However Angie Rocks had started to make her move, railing strongly under Humming Birdhill and set off in pursuit of the lamp lighter to set up a thrilling finish. Angie Rocks loomed up on the outside of Lamia Bale (right) approaching the finish line, however Lamia Bale proved too good, holding on to land the $100,000 first prize by a head in 29.23.
It was the first group 1 victory for Steve Collins and the emotion of the occasion was clear among the large contingent of family and friends track side.
The win took her career record to 16 wins from 52 starts and elevated her prize money to $315,020. Her record at Sandown Park over the 515m and 595m distances stands at 28 starts for 10 wins and nine minor placings. Among those wins are the three group titles – the group 1 Sapphire Crown, the group 2 Laurels and group 3 Sir John Dillon Memorial, and she became the first greyhound since Paua To Burn in 2004 to claim the Laurels-Sapphire Crown double.
The Sapphire Crown – the richest race in the country for female greyhounds – boasts one of the finest honour rolls in the country, featuring some of the greats of the sport including Paua To Burn, Betty’s Angel, Bogie Leigh, Xylia Allen and Queen Lauren.
The Sapphire Crown was the first of two group 1 finals on a big night of racing at Sandown Park. In the night’s second feature, Fernando Bale cemented his place among the sport’s greats in claiming the Harrison-Dwson in a race record 29.14.
Following Lamia Bale’s win, Space Star ran the second fastest time ever over Sandown’s 715m journey and qualified fastest for next Thursday’s RSN Sandown Cup. Other heat winners included defending champion Sweet It Is, Lady Toy and Unix Bale.
Click here for full results from tonight’ meeting.
Lamia Bale (6) holds off Angie Rocks (1) to win the Sapphire Crown
