Lamia Bale, one of the sport’s most underrated chasers, has been retired.
The daughter of former Australian prize money record holder High Earner and 2015 AGRA Dam of the Year Maple Bale came on season following last Thursday night’s group 3 Sir John Dillon Memorial and will immediately head to the breeding barn.
Lamia Bale won 23 of her 80 career starts and featured in 14 group finals, amassing $383,055 in prize money throughout her 18 month racing career. However she will long be remembered for her record at Sandown Park, where she race 46 times over the 515 and 595m distance for 15 wins and three group titles from seven finals.
“I don’t know what it was, but she just loved Sandown. We called it her home track,” said Heather Collins, who handled race day duties throughout Lamia’s career.
“She liked to race off the track a little bit so maybe it was the longer straights, or wider turns – whatever it was she certainly did her best racing there.”
Starting her career in May 2014, Lamia Bale made a modest beginning to her career. It took five starts to win her maiden, and after 16 starts had recorded just three wins. Indeed, the situation was no different at Sandown Park with Lamia Bale taking six starts at the View Road circuit before claiming her first win.
However as the end of 2015 approached, it all began to click for Lamia Bale. Getting stronger with every run and thriving in the race track environment, Collins set her the ambitious target of the group 2 Laurels (515m) and group 3 Sir John Dillon Memorial (595m) run concurrently in December. And after five races in just 17 days, Lamia Bale triumphed in both final.
“It was a big ask but she really loved racing,” Collins continued.
“She started to really put it all together and showed what she was capable of. To go between distances like that was fantastic and a real credit to the dog.”
But there were bigger honours in store for the brindle star.
Now an established top grader, Lamia Bale would contest five group finals in the first four months of 2015 – including a win in the group 3 Ambrosoli at Wentworth Park – before defeating the country’s best females in the $145,000 group 1 Sapphire Crown.
“That was real thrill. It was our first group 1 win and it’s something that, as a trainer, you aspire to throughout your career. To do it in a race like that with a dog like her was really special, just an amazing experience,” said Collins.
Lamia Bale would back up the following week with a narrow loss to Fernando Bale in the group 3 Bill Collins and in October was recognised for her group racing achievement by taking her place in the group 1 Topgun at the Meadows. A month later, she took her place in the world’s richest greyhound race, the $600,000 TAB Melbourne Cup.
After much deliberation, owner Paul Wheeler has opted to take Lamia Bale to Barcia Bale for her first litter, and Collins is hopeful her first litter will be coming back to Lara kennel for their career.
“I think Paul was going to go Fernando Bale, but he changed his mind and decided to go to Barcia Bale instead.
“It’s sad to see her go. She was such a good worker in the yards yet so relaxed in the kennels. Just really professional in everything she did, but she had a bit of attitude too.
“I’m sure the pups will be worth a lot if they were on the market, I’d love to have them here but ultimately it’s Paul’s call so we’ll see what happens.”
Lamia Bale
High Earner x Maple Bale
Owner – Paul Wheeler
Trainer – Steve Collins
Record – 80 starts 23-16-13
Prize money – $383,055
Group race finals – 14
Group wins – Group 1 Sapphire Crown, group 2 Laurels, group 3 Sir John Dillon, group 3 Ambrosoli
Won from every box
Lamia Bale wins the group 1 Sapphire Crown
