Trainer seeks second cup

By Kath Gannaway
LARA greyhound trainer Graeme Bate will be looking for consecutive Healesville Cups with Taipan Bale when he runs in the Healesville Cup final next Saturday.
Bate had a magic weekend when, after guiding Taipan Bale to a win and a place in the cup field, he snared his second Group 1 Australian Cup when Velocette powered to a $150,000 first prize.
Bate and Taipan Bale will now chase consecutive $12,500 strikes in the Healesville Cup final (340m) – the richest straight race in Australia.
A six-time group race finalist, Taipan Bale (18.49 sec) semaphored the second fastest time of eight heats conducted on the weekend.
Other heat winners were Burra Bye (18.43 sec), Majestic Oasis (18.54 sec), Vee Man Vane (18.59 sec), Holy Moley (18.65 sec), Din’s Son (18.71 sec), Shameless (18.72 sec) and Woody Be Good (18.75 sec).
Vee Man Vane (winner 2008 G2 Ballarat Cup) and Din’s Son (finalist 2009 G1 Silver Chief) also have black type experience.
Taipan Bale will attempt to emulate dual-Healesville Cup winners Koutafidamedes (1997-98) and Schwartzanager (2006-07).
The cup draw is 1. Taipan Bale; 2. Woody Be Good; 3. Majestic Oasis; 4. Burra Bye; 5. Din’s Son; 6. Holy Moley; 7. Shameless; 8. Vee Man Vane. Reserves: 9. Harmer Brothers; 10. Pure Love.